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NOTES AND PAPERS 

OF OR CONNECTED WITH 

PERSIFOR FRAZER 

IN GLASSLOUGH IRELAND 

AND HIvS SON 



JOHN FRAZER 

OP PHILADELPHIA 



1735 to 1765 



BY 



PERSIFOR FRAZER 

Docteut ez-Sciences Nalurellei (Unit-i-tstle dr France) 
Cottespondent dct K. K. Rcicltiamlalt zu iVun. 



1900 



-^1 



0^^ 



Gift 
Authoi 

<P«fton) 



FOREWORD. 



In the preparation of the following very imperfect sketches of the 
branch of the Frazers descended from Persifor who resided in Glass- 
lough Ireland during the early part of the XVIIIth Century, I am 
under great obligations to my kinsman and friend Mr. Joseph S.Harris, 
who has already made many valuable contributions to the family 
genealogies of early Pennsylvania immigrants related to the Harrises, 
including that which is the subject of the following pages. The 
genealogical tables with dates of birth, death, and marriage, of the 
earlier generations, together with his comments on the individuals 
therein mentioned are almost literally taken, by his permission, from 
printed and manuscript data prepared by him ; which however have 
been verified where possible, and in places corrected, by me. 

I have also adopted his numerical designation of the generations. 
Thus, he gives to the generation of the original Persifor Frazer the 
arbitrary number "XIV", to allow plenty of margin for any earlier an- 
cestors who may be subsequently established. In each generation 
(designated by Roman numerals) he distinguishes the children, in the 
chronological order of their births, by Arabic numerals. No case of 
twins or triplets having been met, this serves as a convenient and short 
method of specifying any individual, and as no better method occurred 
to me, and I consider the probability of discovering more than fourteen 
generations antecedent to the Glasslough Persifor remote, I have 
adopted Mr. Harris's method both for my own convenience, and also 
that there may be no confusion when his notes are compared with mine 
of the same persons. 

?^ ' It it should transpire in the future that the ancestor who is the start- 
mg point of this branch of the Frazers were indeed the missing Alexan- 
der, brother of Simon Lord Lovat, the labors of the Scottish historians 
including Lord Saltoun, and the College of Heralds, will have already 
spared the necessity of further research by filling up the fourteen gen- 
erations and supplying collateral branches. 

The rules I have adopted to guide me in this work may be faulty, 
but they have been at least consistently carried out. 

One of them is that the document, letter, or whatever it be, should 
be reproduced as nearly as possible on the printed page. Conse- 
quently I have preserved with the greatest care every fault in spell- 
ing and punctuation. In fact the preservation of these errors has cost a 
great deal of time in copying them from the original manuscript, and 



in curbing the typesetters' zeal to improve the orthography of my an- 
cestors and their contemporaries. 

Spelling, even of that epoch, throws some light upon character when 
one knows something of the individual. But it would have been both 
inartistic and expensive to imitate literally all the words of which the 
final letters were written above the line as abbreviations, such as 
ye, Richd, Mr &c. This method of writing is suggested by the in- 
clined line used for fractions, as y/e, Rich/d, M/r. 

Where a list or column of figures ends in the middle of one of the 
pages of this book its last term is repeated and the succeeding entries 
carried down precisely as if an actual page had been turned. 

But the rule which I consider the most important is that of re- 
cording every name I have found among my ancestors' papers 
whether connected with any other name or circumstance, or not. My 
reason for this is that no one can forsee how much light may be thrown 
upon some one else's genealogical work by the discovery of such a 
name in mine. 

If all the memoirs of the period covered in this book were perfect, 
they would form a connected history of the people mentioned. But 
as there are very few memoirs extant, and none of these perfectly full, 
there is the more reason to record every fact however isolated. 

There are two views held in the family as to the political and re- 
ligious predilections of the first Persifor recorded here. One is that he 
was Alexander, the eldest son of Thomas of Beaufort the twelfth Lord 
Fraser ; and like all of his race loyal to church and King. This was the 
record of the clan chiefs from Simon the first Lord Lovat and friend of 
Robert the Bruce, who bore a distinguished part with that King at the 
first battle of Bannockburn, and subsequently with David II at the 
battle of Duplin Aug 3. 1332 where Simon's brother Sir Alexander 
Fraser was killed ; through Hugh the third Lord Fraser who marched 
to the aid of James III of Scotland though too late to avert his defeat 
and death at the second battle of Bannockburn June 11, 1488; down to 
April 16, 1746, when Alexander's crafty younger brother Simon threw 
a large body of Frasers (though he did not lead them) to the support 
of the Pretender Prince Charley and against the King's troops at the 
battle of Culloden Moor. 

According to this view the original Persifor was a Jacobite ; and the 
probability that he leased land from the Leslies, who were strong 
Jacobites, lends it plausibility. 

According to the other view it is difficult to picture a great 
Lord like the Master of Lovat transformed into a small farmer whose 
habits of language and thought resembled those of the Puritans, and 
who exhibited an unaristocratic anxiety about meeting his debts. The 
ownership of a seat in the Presbyterian church by Persifor's son John, 

ii 



and the gift to that son of a family Bible, also suggest the probability 
that both were Protestants. And while there were Scots and probably 
Frasers, who though Protestant in faith were not opposed to the re- 
turn to the throne, or at least would follow their chief to battle in the 
cause of, the Stuarts, the probabilities are that the sympathies of a Scot 
such as Persifor seems to have been would be with William rather 
than with the Pretender. 

Yet the two letters of the old Pretender (pages 12 to 17) 
which are believed to have been among the papers of John Frazer, the 
first of his family to reside in America, are opposed to this conclusion. 

March 1906. Persifor Frazer. 



Explanation of Marks Used in the Text. 

Letters following an inclined line in an abbreviated word were writ- 
ten above the line in the original. 

Small type printed above the line records writing which has been 
stricken out but remains legible. The same type on the line is used 
for editorial comment to distinguish it from the text. 



in 



y 



Errata. 

Page i, Foreword. First word of third paragraph. For "It" read "If." 
Page 13, 7th hne. For "throughout" read "through." 
Page 74, genealogical table (XV) of Robt. Smith and Mary Douglass. 
Lines 2 and 3. Enter "1744" under "Date of marriage." 
Line 6. Enter "about 1780." under "Date of marriage." 
Line 7. Enter "Dec, 1783." "Date of marriage." 
The above dates were obtained from Anthony Blackburn's 
brief dated 1784. In line 6, "about 1780" is assumed from 
the phrase "several years ago." 
Page 78, 9th line. For "XVI-7" read "XVI-2." 
Page 87, 5th line. For "Vice-Provast" read "Vice-Provost." 
Page 100, 5th paragraph, 4th line. For "sattirewise" read "saltirewise." 



CONTENTS. 

PAGE. 

Foreword iii to v 

Persifor Frazer (b. about 1667 d. about 

1740 I to 6 

John Frazer (b. 1709- d. 1765) 

General sketch 7 to 9 

Wm. Penn's deed to John Thomas & 
Edw. Jones of 5000 acres through 
Pritchard, Reese, Jones, Lloyd, Rob- 
erts, & Haines 9-10 

Caution to the Electors of Pennsylva- 
nia. Conestogo by Emanuel Friend. . . . 1 1-12 

Letters from the Old Pretender James 
III (?), to Lord Kenmure & to one 
unnamed 12 to 17 

Power of atty Alex. Smith of Clanick- 

ney to John Frazer 17-18 

Letter Margaret Smith to her Uncle 
John Frazer 18 to 20 

Letter from Persifor Frazer (XIV-i) 

to his son John 20 to 22 

Notice by Collector Thos. Cummings of 

Excise by Assembly of Prov. of Pa 22-23 

Notice to pay quit-rent Phila., Lancas- 
ter, & Pensbury Jas. Steel Rec. Gen 23 

Leaf from Family Bible of John Frazer, 

last gift of his Father Persifor 24 

Notice to pay quit-rents, Phila., Ches- 
ter, Lancaster, Pennsbury, J. Steel 
Rec. Gen . 25 

Notice to those desiring land to apply 
to Land Office Phila., signed Rich'd 
Peters Sec'y 25-26 

Broadside against the Assembly. Elec- 
tions of 1742 (anonymous) 26 to 30 

Broadside against the Governor and 
Council. Elections of 1742 signed 

A. B 30 to 34 

1742. The same Continued. Elections of 1742 

signed T. B 34 to 37 

iv 



May 30. 


1717. 


Sept. 30 


• 1735- 


June 18. 
May 5. I 


1734- 
740. 


May 17. 


1736. 


May 19. 


1737- 


June 3. 1 


737- 


Aug. 29. 


1738. 


Feb. 8. 


1738-9- 


Feb. 10. 


1 740- 1 


Sept. 21. 


1741. 


1742. 




1742. 





Oct. 


5- I 


742. 


1743 
1744 






Feb. 


14. 


1744. 


May 

July 

1738 

Feb. 


17 

25- 

to 

2. ] 


to 24. 1744. 

1745- 
1751- 
755- 


June 


• I7S5-- 


June 


ID. 

■? 


1755- 


Dec. 


7- 


1757- 


July 


21. 


1758. 


March i 


9- 1759- 


Nov. 


16, 


. 1762. 


Jan. 


5- I 


763- 


Jan. 


17- 


1763- 


Dec. 


12. 


1764. 


Feb. 


22. 


1764. 


Nov. 


12 


• 1752. 


Dec. 


30- 


1763. 


Dec. 


18. 


I72(?). 



PAGE. 

Proclamation against settling on In- 
dians' lands at Juniata, Wyomen.and 
Licking creek by George Thomas. 
Lt. Gov 37-38 

Almanac by Isaiah Warner 38 

& C. Brad- 
ford 38 

Deed, Coats to Leech of right to fence 

on Coats' side of Cohockson creek 39-40 

American Weekly Mercury No. 1272 40 

Supplement to Penna. Gazette 40 

Account book of Dr. John Taylor 41 to 47 

Promissory note Eaneas M'Carthy to 

Robert Frazer 47 

Letter to John Frazer from his Father- 
in-law Robert Smith 49 

Letter to John Frazer from his wife 49 

" " " " " " son Persifor..50 

Conveyance by John Frazer & wife of 

their claims upon lands inClanickney to 

Wm Crookshanks 50-51 

Letter from Robt. Frazer (XVI-2) to 

his parents 52 

Letter of Wm. Crookshanks to John 

Frazer 53-54 

Letter of Robert Frazer to his Father 
John Frazer 54-55 

Letter from Robert Frazer to his 
brother Persifor 55 

Official certificate of clearance of the 

"Ranger" from St. Eustatius 55-56 

Afifidavit of L. Weiss to accuracy of his 

translation of above 56 

Affidavits of Harper & Lukens to the 
sailing of the "Ranger" from St. Eus- 
tatius 56 to 58 

Policy of insurance on Vessel & cargo 

of sloop "Ranger" 58 to 61 

Policy of insurance on furniture & 

equipment of brig unnamed 61 to 64 

A music book of John Frazer 64 

Account book & papers relating to set- 
tlement of estate of R. Bayly 64 

Doggerel on loose sheet 64 to 66 

V 



1764. Draft of will of John Frazer G6-67 

Sept. 10. 1765. Letter of administration to Persifor 

Frazer from Benj. Chew 67-68 

Jan. 18. 1774. Account of John Frazer's estate by 

Persifor Frazer 68 to 70 

Jan. 1774- List of desperate debts due estate of 

John Frazer 70 to 72 



Gene&.Iogica>.l Tables. 



PAGE. 

Persifor and Margaret (Carlton or Clayton) Frazer and their 

children. Generation XIV and XV (Frazer) 73 

Robert and Mary (Douglass) Smith and their children. 

Generations XIV and XV (Smith) 74 

Children of John and Mary (Smith) Frazer. 

Generation XVI (Frazer) 75 

Notes on the individuals mentioned in the preceding tables 

by Joseph S. Harris 75 to 79 

Children of Persifor and Mary (Worrall Taylor) Frazer. 

Generation XVII (Frazer) 80 

Notes on the individuals mentioned in the preceding table 

by Joseph S. Harris 81 to 85 

Children of Robert by Elizabeth (Fries), and Alice (Pennell 

Yarnall) Frazer. Generation XVIII (Frazer) 85 

Notes on the individuals of the preceding table by Joseph 

S. Harris 86-87 

The children of John Fries and Charlotte (Jeffers, Cave) Frazer. 

Generation XIX (Frazer) 88 

The children of Persifor and Isabella (Nevins Whelen) Frazer. 

Generation XX (Frazer) 88 



VI 



Appendix. 

Notes on searches relating to the history of this branch of the Frazer 
family at the beginning of the XVIII Century. 

PAGE. 

Persifor Frazer's (XVIII-4) visit to County Monaghan in 

July 1846 89 to 91 

His correspondence with Mr W N Fraser August 12 1879 91 to 96 

Persifor Frazer's (XIX-3) visit to Sir Bernard Burke in Dub- 
lin and correspondence with hiin, with Mr W. N. Fraser, 

and with Lord Saltoun 96 to 100 

Letter from the Rev. L. T. O'Neill 101 

Letter from Mr W. N. Fraser 101-102 

Letter from Mr B. Homer Dixon 103 



vu 



Persifor Frazer XIV-i. b. about 1667 
d. about 1740 

Some time in the last decade of the XVIIth Century there settled 
in the townland of Tonyhannigus (written also Tonnyhamigus, Tony- 
hannigin, etc.,) near the village and lake of Glasslough in the County 
Monaghan Ireland, a Scot named Persifor Frazer who, according to an 
entry in the family Bible of Robert his great grandson, had attached 
himself to the, cause of William III, gone with his army into Ireland 
about 1690, and settled there.* His wife was Margery Clayton, Calton, 
or Carlton, but whether he married her in Scotland or in Ireland is 
not known. The surname Frazer was rare in that part of Ireland 
then, and the first name was entirely unknown, there or elsewhere. 
Sir Bernard Burke, Ulster King at Arms in Dublin, Mr. Stoddard, 
Lyon King at Arms in Edinburgh, Mr. Wm. Fraser, Writer of the 
Signet, and a large number of persons well skilled in Scotch genealogy 
have declared to me they never met the name "Persifor"; and every 
documentary authority accessible has been searched without discover- 
ing any trace of it. 

It seems possible that "Persifor" may have been a variant of the not 
unusual name of Percival, Parcival, Parsifal, Parchvail, Perchvail, Par- 
zival, Percy, Perceforet, etc., but although at the time of its probable 
origin "the rules of architecture were strict and orthography was op- 
tional," neither "Lippenfaulheit" nor bad orthography can satisfac- 
torily account for the transformation of "al" or "fal" to "for" ; and this 
fact led Persifor Frazer (b. 1809) to offer the following ingenious, if as 
yet unverifiable, hypothesis to explain the name and the identity of its 
first bearer. It is recorded that Alexander the eldest son of the 
Master of Lovat, had slain a piper at either a marriage feast or funeral 
ceremony celebrated at his Father's castle in 1689, and had thereupon 
fled from the country and disappeared. One tradition would have it 
that he went to Wales, but there seems no surer foundation for this 
surmise than for others that he went to England, to France, or to 
Ireland. All accounts agree, however, that he disappeared, and while 
some able commentators have scouted the notion that in those days a 
Scot of high birth should have given himself any great concern at tak- 
ing the life of a mere piper, yet the fact of his flight would lead to 
another conclusion; and basing the guess upon the assumption that 
Alexander was stricken with remorse, which would explain his sudden 



♦See Foreword. 



disappearance; and recalling the fact that shortly after the tragedy 
a Frazer with the forename "Persifor" appeared mysteriously in a 
part of the Kingdom of Ireland where Frazers were previously un- 
known, the uncle of the present writer suggested that the wanderer 
after winning a victory over the evil in his nature by rigorous self 
abasement and sincere contrition, had adopted for himself a first name, 
contracted, according to the manner of the time, from the words 
per se fortis, "Strong through himself". It is quite true that the 
written words which he has left fully accord with the spirit of self 
deprecation and melancholy from which the unfortunate man was sup- 
posed to sufifer, but his religious sense is so unmistakable that it would 
seem more likely for him to have chosen a name condensed from "Per 
Deum fortis". 

A plausible hypothesis is that the word "Persifor" is a perversion 
of "Persevere". This supplies the consonant skeleton more perfectly 
than the other words considered, and was equally in harmony with the 
usage of the times. The motto or device is also in keeping with the 
supposed temper of the man.* 

That the name was found in other families near the middle of the 
XVIIIth Century is shown from the letter of Persifor Carr, Sergeant in 
the 48th British Regiment to "Persifer Frazer" (XVI-I) dated "New 
York 2ist May 1768, but in this case his acquaintance with the family 
of the Persifor Frazers renders it more than likely that he was in some 
way related to them and may have been named Persifor for one of 
them, t 

*Vide. "Etymological dictionary of family and Christian names" etc., by William 
Arthur M.A., Sheldon, Blakeman and Co. 115 Nassau St., New York. "Personal 
and family names" etc., by Harry Alfred Long, Glasgow School Board. London. 
Hamilton Adams and Co. 1883. "Curiosities of Puritan nomenclature" by Chas. 
W. Bradsley. R. Worthington 770 Broadway New York. 1880. "What is your 
name?" etc., by Sophy Moody. Richard Bartley. London. 1863. 

None of these works mentions "Persifor" though! Long gives (pp. 144 and 146) 
Percy, and Percival as signifying "head of the valley." 

I am indebted to Mr. Joseph S. Harris for the following notes. The New Inter- 
national Encyclopedia, Vol. XHI p. 923. Perccforet. A French romance, giving the 
fabled history of Britain before the days of King Arthur, first printed in Paris in 1528 
— It is assigned to the latter part of the 13th Century, and the man who gave it to 
the world says that he found it in an English Monastery. 

King Perceforet, who was so named on account of his feat of conquering an 
enchanted forest, came to Britain with Alexander the Great after the extinction of 
the royal house of Brut, (which is supposed to have once reigned over Britain). 

Maurice Hewlett in his novel (published 1903 or 4) "The Queen's Quair" (i. e. 
quair or cahier — meaning a little blank note book), says at the beginning of Chapter 
IV that the Gordons of Scotland a family of great antiquity and pride trace their de- 
scent from Gadiflfer, brother of Perceforest, whose right name was Batis, who was a 
descendant of Brutus, who himself descended from Laomedon, King of Troy. 

These two notes lead me to believe, or rather perhaps to conjecture, that the 
popular romance printed in 1528, had taken the fancy of the Scotch, who treated it as 
scnii-authentic, and took from it the title-n.Tme of their children. 

tin a recent account of arrivals at one of the European Summer resorts which 
was nublished in the Paris edition of the New York Herald, the name "Mrs. Frances 



The essential facts are that a sober, pious Scot named Pcrsifor 
Frazer appeared about 1690 in the neighborhood of Cllasslough, 
townland of Tonyhannigin, County Monaghan, Ireland, where he set- 
tled, probably leasing the place from the Leslies of whose estate it was 
a part as late as 1883, when Sir John Leslie was the "owner of Glass- 
lough and all the lands about it'. (See Appendix. Letter of Rev. 
L. I. O'Neill). 

This Persifor Frazer, who is supposed to have been born about 
1667, and to have died about 1740, married Margery (or Margaret) 
Clayton (or Carlton) somewhere about 1700, lived with her in Tony- 
hannigin and had by her seven children to wit : 

1 Elizabeth b. about 1701. m. Alexander Smith about 1718 

d. after 1766. 

2 Persifor b. about 1703. did not marry, d. 1737. ? 

3 Rebecca b. about 1705. did not marry d. ? 

4 a daughter, name unknown, b. about 1707, m. — Speer and lived 

in Del. Co. Pa. d. ? 

5 John b. Aug. 8. 1709. m. Mary Smith, June 16 1735, 

lived in Newtown, Del. Co. Pa. d. Sept. 7. 1765. 

6 Margaret b. about 171 1. m. John Geiger about 1729, may 

have emigrated to America, d. ? 

7 Sarah b. 171 2. m. John Price about 1735. d. ? 

It is probable that Persifor farmed the land on which he dwelt and 
suffered the usual vicissitudes of fortune which in Ireland have always 
attended the small land owner. If in his youth he was the reckless 
heir apparent to a Scottish laird, time and misfortune had chastened 
his spirit by the time he had reached his seventieth year, his age at the 
time he wrote the only letter which has been preserved. This letter, 
written to his son, who had gone to America two years and a half be- 
fore, reveals the slender means, the petty misfortunes, the misplaced 
confidences, the familiar family and neighbourhood news, of one whose 
horizon was narrow and whose life was hard. He had passed the period 
when a man may with honor retire from toil and leave the struggle 
for existence to younger hands; but there was no rest for him though 
every note of his existence is in the minor key. His wife and he are 
in a "weak and tender condition" ; Johnston has "noe truth in him" ; 
His son's horse was killed by a car man (who probably hired it) and no 

Pirsifor"' occurs. But with the boundless capacity for typographical and other 
errors which is characteristic of the daily press, including the journal named, this 
indication is, by itself, of little value. 



indemnity was received for it ; George is sorry ; PersCarr — (thirty years 
later a Sergt.of the 48th British Regt. in America. See later) — is a very 
bad boy; letters sent to the writer had miscarried; Keady has a melan- 
choly report of his son; The writer would have been pretty easy but for 
McCall's (McCollum's ( ?)) debt ; Corry owed him money but all 
Corry's property was seized by neighbors for debt ; servants cannot be 
prevailed upon to go abroad. The letter reads like the lamentations 
of Job, and is filled with devout expressions of submission to the will of 
God. He is anxious to leave the place and embark with his son for the 
new land of promise ; but that was not to be. After this sad letter the 
thread of his history is cut and we hear nothing further from him. He 
died, it is thought about 1740. 



John Frazer XV-5. b. August 8, 1709 
d. September 7, 1765 

John Frazer (original immigrant), was the fifth child of Persifor and 
Margaret all of whom were probably born at or nearGlasslough Ireland. 
As will be seen in the accompanying table, two children were born to 
his parents after himself. In his twenty sixth year he married Mary 
daughter and fifth child of Robert and Mary (Douglass) Smith, who 
were neighbors of the Frazers in Glasslough. 

(See genealogical table (Smith) generations XIV and XV below.) 
What may have been John's occupation and how much education he 
may have received during the twenty six years prior to his marriage 
must be conjectured. It may be assumed without much chance of 
error that he assisted his Father in the management of the farm, and 
it can be accepted with still greater certainty that he either received 
more instruction, or that he profited by what he received to a 
greater extent than the average small farmer's son, because 
upon his arrival at the scene of his life work he immediately 
assumed direction of various enterprises with a success which would 
have been very unlikely in the absence of such preparation. Family 
tradition has it that the Smiths were opposed to the marriage of their 
daughter with John Frazer, but it is not likely that this opposition was 
based on any objection to the bridegroom personally, for he appears 
to have been a young man of industrious and exemplary habits, who 
preserved the respect and affection of his sisters-in-law and Father-in- 
law years after he had taken away his wife, their kinswoman, to his 
distant home. Very likely her parents were loath to have the ocean be- 
tween them and their daughter ; but whatever may have been the cause 
the opposition was not serious, for the wedding took place on June i6, 
and the couple sailed for Philadelphia on June 28, 1735 arriving at 
their destination exactly three months later (Sept. 28, 1735). 

It was not difficult to understand that a young man of more than the 
average education, and possessed of a normal amount of ambition and 
desire of success, would seek his fortune in other places than that of 
which a passing glimpse is given in his Father's letter. Direction was 
given to this ambition by the following prospectus printed on a single 
sheet yX' ^ 9¥' which is among the family papers. 



The Proprietors of the Pensilvania 
Land-Company in London, do 
hereby give Notice, 
To all Persons that are willitig to Settle upon their Lands in Pensil- 
vania, and the territories thereunto belonging, 
That they will Give to Every such Person or Persons, Fifty Acres 
of Land, to them and their Heirs for ever, Free and Clear of all manner 
of Quit-Rents; Ten Families to Settle together, for the convenience of 
Good Neighbourhood, in every Five Thousand Acres. This Encour- 
agement we promise to Give to a Hundred Families ; and so soon as 
each Family have Built them a Cottage, and Cleared Ten Acres of Land, 
every Family so Settling shall have Deeds executed by the Trustees, 
and sent them over upon a Certificate for that purpose, first obtained 
under the Hands of this Company's Agent or Agents, Residing in 
Pensilvania. 

(Written on the lower margin) 

"Samuel Carpenter and Thos fairman are the Comp/as* Agents." 



Their first home was at Newtown Newtownship.f then Chester 
(later Delaware) County Pennsylvania. It was not unconunon when or- 
ganizing associations in England for settling Pennsylvania lands, to in- 
troduce a clause providing that for every certain number of acres of 
land purchased and cleared, the settler should have a bonus of a lot or 
lots in the town to be built in the neighborhood, or in one actually ex- 
isting. This applied to lots in the city of Philadelphia, and indeed the 
subject of these lines afterwards moved into such a lot in Philadelphia 
in a district which from the fact that it was reserved for the use of a 
land Society of this kind was known as "Society Hill". This hill was 
located near what is now Second and Pine and Lombard Sts. or near 
the mouth of Dock Creek. 

What employment occupied the attention of the new settler other 
than that of clearing the land he had purchased, or by what successive 
steps he advanced from a settler to a merchant or trader, is not known, 
but it is comforting to believe that the change of continent put an end 
to the monotonous misfortune of which his'father seems to have been 
a victim in Ireland. In justice to the elder it should be remembered 
that his age and state of health very probably had much to do with his 
gloomy views of life. John removed to Philadelphia certainly before 
1759, for a letter is addressed to him there in the latter year by Wm. 
Crookshanks his brother-in-law, and in the address of which John 

*Company; (?) 

tNewtownship was laid out in 1685 and its "townstead or village" now called 
Newtown Square is still the most important settlement within its limits" (Harris). 



Frazer is designated as a "Mercliant". He was engaged in commerce 
by sea, notably to the West Indies, and is thought to have owned in 
whole or in part the vessels employed in this trade. 

A John Frazer was licensed to trade with Indians August 1748 and 
Sept. 4. 1753 and it is quite probable that he was the same person as 
the subject of this sketch. 

He revisited Ireland at least twice after arriving in America: the 
first time in 1737 and later, prol)ably in 1752. (J. S. Harris "The 
Frazer family" unpublished Jan. 1905.). Both he and his wife died 
and were buried in Philadelphia. 

The following paper belongs by date more nearly to the period at 
which John Frazer arrived in America. It may however, have been 
among the loose and miscellaneous papers always to be found in a 
lawyer's office and still more frequently in that of a Justice of the 
Peace ;a dignity conferred on both the son and grandson of the original 
immigrant. 



First 
Wm. Penn Esqr. by Lease and Release dated i6th and 17th ,Sepr. 1681 
grants and conveys to Jno. Thomas and Edw. Jones 5000 Acres 

Second J. T and E. Jones, by Indenture bearg. date ist Apl. 1682 

promise to Assign over 156I Acres to Reese Jno. William 
Third . . . J T: and E Jones by In/re. i8th March 2t3 yr. of Cha/rs. 
2nd promise to Assign over 156^ Acres to Thos. Prich- 
ard — ■ 
4th. Thos. Pritchard by Inden/re. i6th July 1784.* conveys the same to 
Reese John William by the name of Reese John late of Ireland. 
Reese John William is now vested in both tracts a Moiety in 
Myrion.f the other in Goshen — 
5th. Reese Jno. William by Will dated 20th 1 1 Mo. 1697-8 devises the 
land in Goshen to his 2d son Evan Jones and his 3d son Jn/o. 

Jones 

6th. John Jones gave his Share in Goshen to his Brother Evan in ex- 
change for other Lands, bnt no deal of Conveyance was ever made 
bctiveen them 
7th. Evan Jones by his last Will and Testament dated 20th ist Mo. 
1708 and therein among other things devised as follows. "I give 
and bequeath all the residue and remaindr. of my Estate Real and 
personal to be sold by my Exec/rs. Richard Jones and Robert 
Lloyd"— 

♦1784 must have been an error for 1684. 
tMerion. 



8th. Thos. Lloyd by grant from Proprietr, obtains 156 j Acres one 

half in Goshen and the other in Myrionf 

9th. Thos. Lloyd makes his will bearing date as therein mentioned and 

devises his Land in Goshen to Jno. Roberts(Shoem/r) by virtue of 

vv/ch. or of some otherway or means in the Law the sd. John Roberts 

became seized etc. 

loth. John Roberts. Granted but never yet conveyed tlie same to Evan 

Jones aforesaid 

nth. By Indenture Quadri/te. made i6th 10. Mo. 1710 — between Ed- 
ward Jones of Myrion etc/a. and Mary his wife, Thomas Jones of 
Myrion (son and heir of Jno. Thomas) and of his wife Ann, Richd. 
Jones eldest son and heir of Reese John William, eldest Brother 
and heir at law of Evan Jones second son of Reese John William 
and Jane his Wife and Robert Lloyd of the first part (the sd. Richd. 
Jones and Robert Lloyd being Exec/rs. of Evan Jones deed.) — 
John Jones third son of Reese John William of the second part — 
John Roberts Shoem/r. and Mary his Wife of the third part — 
(The said John Roberts being son and heir of Robert Jones and 
the said Robert Jones being brother and heir at law of Thomas 
Lloyd — and John Haines of the part etca. Signed by Edwd. Jones. 
Mary Jones— John Jones — Robt. Lloyd, Richard Jones — John 
Roberts Mary Roberts — 
NB: 254 Granted by this deed — 360 survey'd as by D Powells draft of 
the land. 

John Haines and Esther Haines Assigns as follows viz. 
To all People to whom these presents shall come know Ye that I the 
within named John Haines for divers good and valuable considerations 
as well as for the natural love and affection I bear my son Isaac Haines 
do Assign and make over all the within mentioned 254 Acres of Land 
etc/a. and do by these presents fully absolutely and to intents and pur- 
poses Assign and make over all my right Title Interest property 
Claim and demand whatsoever unto the within mention'd 254 Acres 
w/th y/e prem. and appurten/es unto him the said Isaac Haines his 
Heirs and Assigns for ever To the only Use and behoof of him the said 
Isaac Haines his Heirs and Assigns for ever. In witness whereof I 
have hereunto set my Hand and Seal this 30th. May 171 7— 
(no Acknowledgment, nor proof of the Execution.) 



^Vhatever may have been the business in which John Frazer, the 
origuial immigrant originally engaged, it is extremely probable that he 
was plunged into politics, from the time of his arrival in this country, 



tMerion. 

10 



as appears by a copy of the following broadside issued just a week 
before his landing, of which the preservation among his effects is 
sufficient indication that it engaged his attention, and that upon its 
subject he probably had decided views ; though what they were is not 
known. 

A Letter of Caution 

To The 

Electors 

of 

Pennsylvania. 

Conestogo, 20th Sept. 1735. 
Dear Friends, 

Although our great Friend and honourable Founder has settled this 
Colony under a Constitution, which not only deserves, but as an indis- 
pensibie Duty to ourselves and Neighbours, requires our utmost Atten- 
tion Care and Diligence, to Maintain and Preserve; And as a kind 
Parent to his Children, or a good Patriot to his Country, he has given 
us such Rules and Directions, as may, if not wanting to the natural 
Duty of Self-preservation, continue to us and our Posterity, the Happi- 
ness he intended for us ancf them. But as the Wantonness and Cor- 
ruption of Men and Manners have in all Ages necessarily call'd for aid 
from the Senate to prevent and correct Evils and Disorders in Society, 
which at once no human Prudence or Invention could sufficiently pro- 
vide against, it will, as long as that race continues, be found necessary 
to apply fresh Remedies to fresh Diseases. In Speculation it seems 
incredible, yet in Practice it's notorious. That Men Act against the 
most plain Rules, convictions of Conscience, and light of natural 
Reason, even in a Matter of the greatest Consequence in their Tem- 
poral Concerns; for who knows not, that the Trade, Interest, and Wel- 
fare of every one in Pennsylvania very much depend upon the Cash of 
the Country and the due Administration thereof ; and that the Assem- 
bly is the only Check on those who have the Custody of and are Ac- 
countable for the same? What Infatuation, Madness, or lethargic In- 
dolence, can be thought to seize Men when by their own Content and 
Influence, they advance and chuse those Men to the Seat of Justice or 
Assem1)ly, who are the very Parties with whom the Public have this 
great Concern in Dispute. Is it not against the Laws of God and Man, 
that Men should sit as Judges in their own Causes? Consult but the 
voice of Common Sense and Natural Reason, and you'll clearly appre- 
hend, that nothing comes nearer the destruction of the Constitution, 
than the conniving at or promoting such monstrous Heresy in Poli- 
ticks. How easy may the Possessor of a large Treasure Act the 
Banker, and accumulate to himself immense Sums, and therewith Bribe 
the Electors and Elected, and so become incontrolable, and subject the 

II 



Government to liis Arbitrary Will : View well this scene of impending 
Danger, and consider, if without horror and amazement, you can suf- 
fer your Selves or Constitution thus to be exposed to Slavery and 
Destruction, and what odious imputation such miserable politicians 
incur. How comes the Province in Debt Three or Four Thousand 
Pounds? the Public work not done? or how came it you have not 
been able to inspect the Public Cash for some Years past? Why, the 
Truth is, the Parties became Judges in the Dispute, and by their 
I^ower and influence were too Potent to be controll'd or managed; 
and until you remove the Cause, the Effect will be the same, but worse 
the longer in continuance. Awake then, and drive away the Servile 
stupidity or Mercenary views that prevent our free and honest Elec- 
tions; and do not dishonour the Country by chusing Men for your 
Representatives in Assembly, that bear Offices incompatible with that 
weighty Trust, or that have been stigmatiz'd with any Scandals or 
Baseness, either in Principles or Practice: But as Pennsylvania is 
stock'd with numbers of Men of Estates, Sense, Ability, Plonesty and 
Integrity, out of which you may and doubtless will Chuse the Repre- 
sentatives if you lay aside all other Motives or Considerations save 
that of the Public Good, by which only you can be called honest and 
free Electors, which I heartily wish you may ever continue to be, and 
that you and your Posterity may always enjoy inviolably that happy 
Constitution which the flourishing Colony of Pennsylvania is blessed 
with. 

Farewell 

Emanuel Friend. 



Somewhat out of their chronological sequence are introduced here 
two letters which were among the papers of John Frazer but on which 
no light can be thrown at present. The first appears to be a note 
written by the Secretary of the Old Pretender to Lord Kenmure 
(Kenmare (?)) and signed by the soi distant James III as "James 
R." dated Albano (an Episcopal city on the Via Appia 12 miles S".E. of 
Rome) June 18. 1734, without designation of the person addressed 
save by an endorsement on the back having some characteristics in 
common with the signature (but not with the body of the note) and 
written with similar ink, as follows : 

K. — Jas Lettr 
To L K 

1733 
underneath which is written in a different hand and in different ink 

"to Lord Kenmure" 
the "33" of the date appears to have been written over two strokes 

12 



rather lower than the "17," as if the numl)er had been 171 1. The let- 
ter expresses appreciation of the devotion to the writer's person of the 
addressee and commends him to the example of his Father; promising 
particular marks of the writer's favor. 

It is evidently a genuine letter of the exiled son of James II, 
and was in all probability intended for Sir Nicholas Browne sec- 
ond Viscount Kenmare who was attainted throughout the acts of his 
Father Sir Valentine Browne the first Viscount, and his own, for un- 
swerving fidelity to King James II and his legitimate successor. Sir 
Valentine was born in 1737; sworn to the privy council of Jas II ; was 
Colonel in his army and created Baron of Castlerosse and Viscount 
Kenmare subsequently to the abdication of his master in 1689. His 
Lordship forfeited his estate through his loyalty and died in 1694. 
His son Sir Nicholas was an Ofificer of rank in the King's service and 
this letter was addressed to him. He shared the attainder of his 
Father and was deprived of the estates during his life. At his death 
in 1790 his heir and successor recovered them. 

Albano. June iSth. 1734. 
I cannot but take very kindly of you the zeal and duty you 
express for me in your letter of the 25th. May, and hope you 
will yet have one day an occasion of giving me further marks of 
them in your Country's and my Service, You cannot follow a 
better example than that your Father left you, the signal 
proofs he gave me of his attachment to my person and cause, 
and what he sufferd for it, can never be forgot by me, and will 
be the strongest inducement to me to give you particular marks 
of my favor and kindness, which I doubt not but you will always 
deserve by continuing in your present sentiments towards me 

James R. 
Endorsed K. — Jas Letter 
To L K 

1734^ 
to Lord Kenmure 

The second letter is anonymous and also unaddressed, but it is evi- 
dently also from James and not his son Charles Edward who were liv- 
ing more or less together in Rome. He alludes to his determination 
not to repeat the errors of his Fatheri (James II) as to intolerance of 
religious opinions, and also to his own age, which facts preclude the 
young Pretender as the author. 

It is interesting to note his mention of the possibility of a restora- 
tion without the help of foreign powers. The persistence in the ef- 
fort to accomplish which, contrary to the advice of his best advisers 
abroad, and later of his supporters the Scottish chiefs to whom he had 

13 



made his way, was the cause of the final ruin and overthrow of Charles 
Edward the Young Pretender. 

This letter seems to show that these plans had been discussed be- 
tween Father and Son. It was probably a secret document of which 
many copies were made and distributed in the United Kingdoms of 
Great Britain and Ireland by Jacobite agents. But how it found its 
way to John Frazer in America is entirely conjectural as are the senti- 
ments he may have entertained toward the writer. 

May 5th 1740. 
Sir 

I receivd in due time the letter, or paper written by your freind 
in March last with another short paper in the same hand that 
accompaneed it ; I have perused both w/t. attention and Satisfac- 
tion, and can easely remark in them afTund of experience good 
sense and affection for our Country and my familly. I am 
no wat surprised, that my Character and principles shoud be so 
little known where he is, neither I nor my Children have many 
occasions of declaring our sentiments, T'is true we make no 
Secret of them ; But those who may be acquainted w/t. them, 
are but too often under necessity of Concealing w/t they know 
on Such heads. It would be a subject of just Concern to me, if 
any who profess my Religion, should, by their writting or dis- 
course have given ground to attribute to it, ill maxims', so Con- 
trary to its true principles as those mentioned in your freinds 
letter, and if any of my welwishers in general, declare in their 
conversations for Arbitrary power, they are greatly against my 
sentiments and Interest. As for those who are brib'd tools to 
Support the present Arbitrary government, surely nobody can 
Consider them as my freinds, whatever may be their professions, 
but these are unconveniencys and misfortunes, for which I can- 
not be answerable, and to which, I have it but little in my power 
to putt any remedy whille the Enemys of my familly, make to 
be sure, the most of every thing that can tend to our Disad- 
vantage, and can do it without restraint 

■ — It is therefore no wonder that I should be so misrepresented 
and little known ; were our Conduct in the city of Rome put in a 
true light it would not a little Contribute to disipate the ill 
grounded fears and jealousys of many, and as for my Sincerity 
in what I may promise even during Exile I think without hav- 
ing recourse to my present Character no doubt should be had 
on that head, by any reasonable man ; who will rightly Consider 
the present Situation of my familly — We have now been more 
than fifty years out of our Country we have been bred and have 

14 



lived in the School of Adversity unacquainted with flattery — 
and power, which always attend Princes on the Throne, and 
equally unacquainted with Certain ambitious views which are 
too common w/t. them. — If long Experience teaches us how 
little we may depend upon the freindship of foreign powers 
(whatever view of apresent Interest may (have formerly or may 
hereafter) induce them to undertake in our favours. Our 
restoration no doubt would be much more agreeable both to 
our Subjects and ourselves were it to be brought about without 
any foreign assistance, but should it happen that any foreign 
Power Contribute to place me on the throne it might be Visible 
to all thinking men that I can nether hope to keep it nor enjoy 
peace and happiness upon it but by gaining the love and affec- 
tion of my Subjects. I am far from aproving the mistakes of 
former reigns I see and feel the effects of them and should be 
void of all reflection did I not propose to avoid them with the 
outmost care — and therefor I do not entertain the least 
thought of assuming the Government on the footing my father 
left it — I am fully resolved to make the law the rule of my Gov- 
ernment and absolutly disclaim any pretentions to a dispens- 
ing power I am Sensible of the ruine and oppression with which 
our Country is distressed, many may make the greatest part of 
the people desirous of a Change att any Rate, but for my part as 
naturall and as just as it is for me to desire that I and my 
familey should be Restored to our Just and lawfull right, I am 
far (att my age especially) from desiring that should happen but 
upon an honourable and Solid foundation, cemented by a mu- 
tuall Confidence betwixt King and people by which the welfare 
and happiness of Both may be well and Effectually Secured. It 
is manifest that not only justice, but even the Nation requires 
my Restoration, because I can never have a Separate interest 
from that of my Country nor any hopes of peace or Tranquility 
for myself or my family but by Consulting the affections of my 
people and having only in View Vein' (?) their h— " Honour 
and happiness — I am persuaded there are many persons of 
great Talents and merit who would be of that opinion were my 
true sentiments known to them, tho they are not all all look'd 
upon as well w'ishers of my Cause — nither can I wonder that 
they should have prejudices against me, they have been bred up in 
them from their youth and Constantly Confirmed in them by all 
the 'ivos artifices Imaginable but I hope the time is not far distant 
in w/c. they will See things in a true light and if they lay aside all 
unjust prejudices against me and lay as much to heart as I do the 
prosperity and happiness of our Country. I make no doubt we 

15 



shall he entirely Satisfied vv/t. onanother. Tis fitt your freind 
should know that 1 have by me a draught of a Declaration which 
there has never been any occasion to publish, this declaration 
was drawn in Consequence of the Sentiments and expressions 
in this letter 

It Contains a generall Indemnity without exception for all 
that has part against me and my familly — A Solemn engage- 
ment to maintain the Church qf England as by law Established 
in all her Rights privelledges possessions and immunitys 
whatsomever, and as I am utterly averse to all animositys and 
Persecutions on account of Religion it also Contains apromise 
to grant and allow a Tolleration to all Protestant Dissenters. 
I also express in it an utter aversion to the Repealing the 
Habeas Corpus Act as well as to the loading my Subjects with 
unnecessary taxes or raising any in a manner burthensome to 
them and especially to the Introducing foreign Excesses, and all 
Such Methodes as may have hitherto been devised and persued 
to acquire Arbitrary power att the Expence of the Liberty and 
property of the Subject — and besides, there is a general 
article of my readyness to Settle all that may relate to the wel- 
fare and happiness of the Nation, both in Civil and Eclesisticall 
matters by the Sincere advise and Concurance of a free Parli- 
ment I"f- 

I infer were I known and justice done my sentiments it 
would (I am Convinced) make many alter their present way of 
thinking and induce them toConcure in measures for my Restor- 
ation as the most Effectuall means to Restore peace and happi- 
ness to our Country. I thank God I am without Resentment 
against anybody I shall never retain any memory of past mis- 
takes and shall never make any other destinction amongst my 
Subjects but such as true Merit and faithful! Service may 
Authorsce and require. I have ever the greatest abhorrence to 
all disimulation and will Certainly never promise any thing 
during my Exile but what I shall perform after my Restora- 
tion. 

Endorsed "The Kings 

lett/r fr. Rome 
1740" 



16 



The following are deeds, private letters, powers of attorneys, polit- 
ical publications, and descriptions of objects and papers which were 
among the effects left by John Frazer. 

May 17, 1736. 
Know all men by these presents that I Alexander Smith of Clanickny 
In y/e parish of Donagh Barrony of Truegh County of Monaghan and 
Kingdon of Ireland do by these presents for Myself my heirs Ex/rs 
Adm/rs Nominate and Constitute authorize and appoint my Trusty and 
well beloved friend and Brother John ffreazer late of Tonyhamigin in 
y/e said County now of 

In his Majesty King George's Dominions In America to be My 
Lawfull Attorney and in my Name to Shue for and recover off y/e 
within named Thomas Johnsto( ) the within mentioned Sum of one 
pound Seventeen Shillings and Sixpence Ste/r. and to Shue arrest and 
Imprison him y/e said Thomas Johnston for y/e Said Sum if need be 
and after Shuing arresting and Impriosoning him y/e Said Thomas 
Johnston on payment of Said Sum or Securing y/e Same to be paid him 
y/e Said John ffraezor my attorney for my use do Impower him My 
said att/ry. to discharge and release him y/e said Johnston from Said 
Debt and out of prisone if Confin'd and do Every other reosanable and 
Lawfull account or accounts thing or things whatsoever relating 
thereto in as full and ample a manner as if 1 was personally present 
and for Your So Doing This Shall be your Sufficient Warrant and 
Authority — 

Given Under my Hand and Seale in Said County the Seventeenth 
day of May one Thousand Seven Hundred and Thirty Six 
Signed Sealled and Delivred Allexr Smith seal 

In presence of us 
Robert Thompson 
William Little 

The above named Robert Thompson and William Little Came this 
day before me and made oath that they were personally present and 
Did See the above named Alexander Smith Duely Signe Seale and 
Exicute the above Instrument of writing or Letter of attorney and 
that the names Robt Thompson and William Little thereto Subscribed 
as above are proper hand writings of the sd. Depon/ts 
Jurat eor me uno magister Extraord/y. p William Little 

Captione afifid/d.rure in et proCom.Monaghan ^^^^^^_^ Thompson 
virtute Commission Mihs Direct apud ^ 

Glasslough in Com pld 17 Die Mensis 
Mail et anno Dom 1736 et cognos. Depont 

Will Johnston 
Alexand/r Smith of Clanickney in the Parish of Donagh County of 

17 



Monaglian and Kingdom of Ireland Gen. aged forty four years or 
tliereabouts came tliis day before me and made Oath, that some time 
in or about y/e moimth of augst one thousand seven hundred and 
thirty three, he this Deponant obtained a Bill for the sum ofif one 
Pound seventeen Shillings and Sixpence Ste/r. with a penalty of y/e 
Double Valine from Thomas Johnston Late of Gallanagh in y/e parish 
of Monaghan and County aforesaid and under his hand and seal and 
payable to this Deponant his heirs Ex/s. Adm/s or assigns in a few 
Days after the possession thereof. But Some little time afterward as 
this Deponant heard and believes he the Said Tho/s. Johnston went pri- 
viately out of this Kingdom and transported himself to some part of His 
Majestic King Georges Dominions in America without paying him this 
Deponant Any part of Said Sum nor has he this Deponant or Any one 
for him received any part of Said Sum as yet and this Deponant fur- 
ther deposeth that in the month of October following the perfection of 
said Bill a (fire ? ) accidentally ki(ndled ? ) brooke out on this De- 
ponants Dwelling house in Clonickney afores, which Suddenly Con- 
sumed Said house and a great part of this Deponants goods and papers, 
and that y/e said Bill was Either burnt then or Lost in the Hurry So as 
he can't find it since or heare any further or other accompt of it, not 
withstanding he has made diligent Enquiry for y/e same, and he further 
Deposeth that John Smith of Aghalaverty in Said County and Thoma/s 
Smith this Deponants Son were witnesses to Said Bill and further Saith 
not 

Alexr: Smith 



Jurat cor me uno magister Extroard. 
p Captione afifiet/t. in rure in et p 
Com. Monaghan virtute commission mills 
Direct apud Glasslough in Com. ploilte 
17th die Mensis May Anno Dom: 1736 
et Cognoss Doponts. 

Will : Johnston 



Clinickny may the 19th 

1737 
Dr, and onst afifectiont uncle 

With whome whilst in jreland I had confort and greate satis- 

fection ; I belive never was uncle and nees dearer to other while heare 

1 never recaived a shy look from you nor you from me, nor did I think 

their was ever reason for it and though we weare unfortunitly sepper- 

18 



ated, 1 was big with the hopse of as good a Coraspondance as posable 
But to my great Concern I find it otherways what The reason of it 
may be, 1 am att a los to know for my part I am still the seam as 
sincaere a frend and as much in my duty to you both as ever I ashure 
you I never mist one opertunity of writing to you eving since you have 
not been att the truble to give me your service. I never rcaived a line 
from ither of you since we parted but one from you in my fathers 
Leter which I answared very exactly this is the sixth or 8th I have 
wroate to you I know of too you mist one of them and one from 
my father and one from your sinceare frend went in a vesell that was 
wracked the others with more from your frends went with Mr. White 
who I supoase never went to that contry sine the rest I hope you 
have recaived though I never was so happy as get the answer of one of 
them I cannot think How mine should mis cary when others came so 
seafe I think I may say without presumpion, I was as well Intiteled 
to a leter from you as any but your parents I need not blame my ant 
seeing you have been so unkind though I am consious I never gave 
you the least Reason but if you suppoase any I can forgive you Dr 
uncle I am ver much concerned to heare you speak so cearelessly of 
tomy as you do you know he was but a child in a maner when he 
went with you and Left very much to the care of you and my dr ant 
Whose care I thought should not have been wanting Supose she had 
not been your wife I do declare he never onest complained more 
than of the distance was between you but I fair itt from your own 
leters For he has talked much of both your cares but should he be 
gilty of any ofence I think it would not be willfully but you know he 
is young in comparison to you and I am shure he is afTectionet and if 
there has been any mis understanding I fain hope its all over last 
yeare I had great hopes of seeing you onst more in this country but 
your last leter was deth to them yet I would willingly think you 
should be beter content to live heare Than there I beg jf you can 
think it proper That you may come I am shure yo(u) woud meet 
With a kind recep(tio)n x x 

... Id ad to your parents days and . . (torn) ly to the com- 
fort to all your frends a espeacsily to mine 

I have no news att presen(t) I think wort(h) your notis I ad no 
more att present but the Lord be your shild in a straing land and give 
you grace to grow and live together as heirs of the greace of life and 
that you may walk Befoare him with a perfect hart that in the end 
you may know in whome you have belived Is the sincere prayer of 
your most affectionit and dutfull neec whilst in this world 

Marg:tt Smith 

Give my love and duty to my uncle Speer and ant Margery 

19 



bigers gives you her love and service My Father Mother and 
Brother gives you both their love and service nothing in this life 
would be worse to my mother than to think theare should be a misun- 
derstanding between you and tomy Alix and betty gives thire love 
and duty to you both 

To Mr. John frazor These 



The following is a letter of the original Persifor referred to on 
page 5: 

Dy dear Son this day being the iith of June 1737 I recud 
yours dated desembr 36 and am glad in the lord that hath mercifuly 
spared you in life and health your mother and I are yet liueing but in 
a weak tender condition and hath been much oprest in pay 
McCollom's debt near 20 po'd and can noe way remedy myselfe but by 
taking his body it is so hard upon me that I cannot bear it I will defer 
proceeding against him yet for som reasoiis John prie and wife is in 
health but in debt Rebeca Is liueng near her former being margry in 
a deplorable condition since she had y/e pox y/e too younge children 
dead Jack in Glaslough glower Mally with me hugh Johnston come 
back yesterday saing he will — (torn) — setle but there is noe truth in 
him allex and family Is well Sarah hath a young daughter Your 
wif's peoaple are all well James Morrison at home Your hors died 
with a carrman noething got for him goarge concerned that he did 
atack you Nelly in count Derry pers carr a auerry bad boy mally 
comeing back from mullangar flaxseed was sould in newry this year 
at thirty shilling pr boghead allex got fifty at derry for what thomas 
sent flour is diferent prices in y/e year barrel staues is tenn shillings per 
hundred which I beliue is the readiest mony You need not fear as for 
seed and flouer at ye season you purpos to come god willing will be a 
dull artickle until spring. 

I haue writen seuerall lettersi that I fi" find you haue not got one 
espesially by James White with whom I sent a book and the gospol new 
creatur was with me in agust last and tould me he lined near you I 
haue now writ with Samuel McMullan of loart and also with arsbol 
lees of Keady who was Resolued to goe but haueing a mellancolly Re- 
port of his son I know not if he will but he will send the letter by andrew 
Lucky if this comes to you let me hear if young lees in your country be 
well if you can before you come yourselfe god spare and prosper you 

20 



to come giue my love and best Respects to mr. Frazer and his family 
1 p ray god Reward him for his kindnes to you which 1 take as don to 
myselfe I am glad to hear by thomses letter which came the same day 
with yours that you and he are cordial I wish you may continue soe to 
to be to whom we give our loue and begge god may bless him and you 
and yours Persifor Frazer 

if god be pleased to lett me see you here and I liuing and able to 
goe with you I know not if we shall part the Lord giue direction 
both to you an me In all thing tending to — (blot) — his glory and our 
comfort in tim and foreuer Mrs. Corry Is dead Himselfe at Newry 
the girle with her grand mother the boy with me I am safe with him 
one way or other all he had here was ceased by neighbours for debt 
a good tennant in his place I would have been pretty easy butformuC'alls' 
debt I shall have trouble to come at any of my own, if att all I can not 
bear the loss if posable I can help it as for seruants I can not preuaij 
with any to bind themselues to goe abroad as for hats they are pro- 
hibited noe master of a ship will admit ,m a board to his knowledge 
whatsoeuor a man might doe goeing himselfe lam told by carpenters.+ 
oak boards inch thicke Is worth threepence pr foot as for wallnutt ther 
Is noe such thing made use In this part of y/e country wherefore noe 
workman here knoweth the pr — (torn)— thereof wherefore if it pleas 
god to spare and prosper you to come bring staues and flaxseed are of 
use in comom which I belieue Is y/e Readest money as for flouer there 
Is a prospect of a plentifull crope this year the Loard direct to what Is 
most for his glory and the good of your soule and body your mother 
hath prouided cloath to make you cloase who Joyns with me in 
prayer to god for his blesing to and family 

PersiFor Frazer 

for John Frazer at Newton and Newtownship 
in penseluenia in america — or to be Left at 
the post oiice in filladelfia these 

— (torn)aze(torn) — 



21 



Advertisement. 

PURSUANT TO THE DIRECTIONS IN AN ACT OF GEN- 
ERAL. Assembly of the Province of Pennsylvania, laying an Excise 
of Four Pence f^cr Gallon on all Wine, Rum, Brandy, and other 
spirits retailed therein. 

PUBLICK NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN TO ALL Retailers 
and others who intend to retail any of the Liquors above-men- 
tioned ; That is to say, such Traders or Retailers wlio shall after 
the 1st of September ensuing. Sell, or intend to Sell or Barter 
Wine in less quantity than one Hogshead, delivered to one Person 
at one Time : And in Rum and other Spirits in less quantity than 
Seventy Gallons delivered in Manner aforesaid; that such Re- 
tailers, and every of them, innnediately upon the Commencement 
of the abovesaid Act (which will be on the ist of September ensu- 
ing) enter their respective Names and Places of abode, together 
with an Account of the quantity of the Exciseable Liquors at that 
Time in their Possession ; as also the Marks and Numbers of the 
Vessel or Vessels wherein the same is contained. 
AND that from and after such Entry (which is to be made upon 
Oath or Affirmation) no Retailer take into Store, any Cask or 
quantity of Liquor as aforesaid, before Entry made thereof as 
aforesaid, and of whom the same was bought, under the Penalty 
of Forfeiting the said Liquor. 

THAT every Retailer render an Account once in every three 
Months (without any further Notice than is herein given) or 
oftner if required, of all such Wine, Rum, Brandy and other Spir- 
its, which he, she or they have retailed within that Time, and then 
pay the Excise on the same, under the Penalty of Forfeiting, for 
the first neglect or refusal. Forty Shillings, and for the second 
Ofifence Five Pounds, and have their Permit or License taken 
away and rendered uncapable of Selling any of the Liquors afore- 
said, during the Continuance of this Act. 

IT is further Provided also. That whoever shall retail by less 
quantities than one Quart of any Liquors above-mentioned (with- 
out the Governor's License for so doing) are subject to a fine of 
Five Pounds, over and above the Excise for all such Liquors so 
retailed by them, etc 

AND it is therein further enacted. That no Person who is in 
Arrears for Excise, be permitted for the future to retail, until such 
Time as they discharge what they are indebted thereon. 

AND that if any Person doi Draw, Sell or Barter, any Liquors 
aforesaid, without having first Entred as aforesaid, every such 
Person Forfeits Five Pounds over and above the Duty as afore- 

22 



said. And lastly, That the Constaljlcs of the several Districts 
of this County, are strictly enjoined under the Penalty of Tzvcniy 
Shillings to return the Names of all Retailers in their respective 
Districts to the Court of Quarter Sessions, and to be aiding and 
assisting- in detecting of Frauds and abuses conunitted contrary to 
the true intent and meaning of the above-said Act. 

THOMAS CUMMINGS, COLLECTOR. 
Dated at Chester, the 29th 
Day of August, 1738. 



A quaint little almanac (4 J" x 6|") for 1837, lacking the covers but 
otherwise complete, bears the names of various members of the Taylor 
family and i)robably came into possession of the Frazers in the gen- 
eration following John's, but it gives one an idea of the subjects which 
most interested the new comer to America. In the lines of heroic 
verse which conclude each page and are accomodated to the space left 
vacant after the calendar and astronomical notes are printed, many in- 
teresting things occur. Thus, under January the reader is warned 
against keeping alive the political animosities of King Charles' time. 
Under February the tragic massacre of Christians by the Japanese 
King Combo is recounted. Under April is a curious chronology of 
creation "5700 years since Heaven and Earth from nothing came" etc. 
An advertisement leaflet, also 4^" x 61" is as follows. 



Advertisement. 

Province of Penn- Notice is hereby given to all Persons, who 
ci,,^,,;^ c- 'irc indebted to the Honourable the Proprie- 

tanes, tor (Juit. Rent due on the Lands they 
hold in the said Province, and for Lots of Ground within the City 
of Philadelphia: That they provide to pay off the same in the next 
Month (March;) for collecting whereof the Receiver-General will 
attend at his Office in Philadelphia, from the First Day of the said 
Month to the 12th, for receiving those of the County and City of 
Philadelphia. At Lancaster, for the County of Lancaster. Attend- 
ance will be given from the 14th to the 17th Day inclusive. 
At Chester from the 21st Day to the 24tli inclusive. And at 
Pcnsbury in the County of Bucks, from the 27th to the 31st in- 
clusive of the same Month. At which respective Times and 
Places, all Persons who are indebted as aforesaid, are required 
without further Delay to pay the same, otherwise they may expect 
to be proceeded against as the Law directs. 
James Steel, Rec. Gen. 
Philadelphia, the 8th of the 
1 2th Month, February, 1738,0 

23 



Leaf from family Bible of John Frazer (XV-5) 

The Last gift of persifor 
frazer to his son John frazer 

Persifor frazer Jun/r was Born the 9th of August 1736 
Robert frazer was born the 21st of July being on 
friday about eight of the Clock in the morning 1738. 
John frazer was born the gth of Octo/r 1740 — 
and Dyed on monday morning the 30th. of aug/t. 1741 — 
John frazer 2/ A was born July y/e 31 and dyed Septemb/r 
Seventh 1742 — 

Mary Frazer was Born the 4/th fourth of October 1744 
and dyed the 25th of July 1746 
Elizabeth frazer was Born the 9th. of July 1747 
and Dyed October the 9th 
Thomas frazer was born the 23/d of 
September about four oClock on friday 
morning 1748 and departed this life 
on Tuesday the tzvclfth of December 1749 about . 
Forty minutes after tzcelz'e o'clock in the day 
Sarah Frazer was Born October i8/th. 1750 
Meary frazer was born May the 30th 
Wednesday morning 1753 & De(pa)rted th's '"fe — (torn) 
the 8th. day of Oct (torn) '754 

Anne Frazer was born September 4th, 1755, married to Joshua Vernon 1776, 
who died about March 1798. 

The page on which the entries occur is about 8% x 6% inches and ragged on 
every side. The first two lines of dedication are written in a very large hand with 
many flourishes but apparently by the same hand which wrote all the entries ex- 
cepting part of the i6th and the 17th and 18th lines as noted below. The words in 
italics are in a diflferent handwriting and with paler ink. 

The words and figures in small text are added from a leaf of the family Bible of 
Robert Frazer (XVII-2) which is headed "Copy of a leaf of the Bible of John Fra- 
zer." The words supplied, as far as the date of birth of Anne, may have been in 
the original but are now missing. The date of the marriage of Anne must have been 
added by Robert or his Father, and that of the death of her husband by Robert him- 
self. 



24 



ADVERTISEMENT. 

Province of Pcnn- J" P"/f".a"ce of an Act of the General Assem- 
svlvania ss ^ Province, made in the fourtli Year 

y ' ■ of the Reign of the late Queen ANNE, for the 

more easy effectual Collecting of Quit-Rents, due to the Hon- 
ourable the Proprietaries within the said Province. Publick No- 
tice is hereby given that the Receiver-General will attend at his 
Ofifice in the City of Philadelphia, from the 2d Day of the next 
Month (March) to the 7th inclusive, for receiving the Quit-Rents 
due the City and County of Philadelphia. At Chester for the 
County of Chester, from the 9th Day to the 14th inclusive. (At 
the Town of Lancaster, for the County of Lancaster, attendance 
will be given by Thomas Cookson Esq ; who is authorized for that 
Purpose, from the 17th to the 21st.) And at Pcnnsbury in the 
County of Bciiks, from the 23d to the 28th of the same Month. 
At which respective Times and Places, all Persons concerned are 
required to appear and pay their respective Rents. 

AND WHEREAS notwithstanding the like Advertisements 
which have been published every Year, pursuant to the above re- 
cited Act of Assembly, the People who hold Lands or Lots within 
the said Province, have greatly neglected their Duty in not ap- 
pearing at the Times and Places therein appointed to pay their re- 
spective Quit-Rents: They are therefore to take Notice, that 
upon their further Neglect, Distress will be made on the Premises 
charged with such Quit-Rents, whether one Year or more be in 
Arrear, and the Effects or Premises thereupon taken will be Sold 
according as the Law directs. 



Philadelphia, the loth of the 
12 Month (February) 1740-1. 



J. Steel, Rec. Gen. 



NOTICE is hereby given To all Persons whom it may concern. 
That the Honourable GEORGE THOMAS, Esq; Lieutenant 
Governor of the Province of Pennsylvania, and Counties of New- 
Castle, Kent and Sussex on Dela-.i'nrc is fully Impowered by the 



Honourable the PROPRIETARIES, as well to confirm all Con- 
tracts heretofore made for the Sale of any Lands within the said 
Province, and Counties, as also to sell and grant any vacant 
Lands within the same THEREFORE all Persons, who have 
already contracted, or are desirous to contract for any such 
Lands, may apply themselves to the LAND OFFICE in Pliila- 
dclphia, as hath heretofore been usual: And those, who have 
already made any such Contracts and not fulfilled the same, are 
admonished to apply and complete their respective Agreements. 
Philadelphia By the Governor's Command, 

2ist. Sept. 1741 RICHARD PETERS, Seer. 

This leaf is surmounteU by the Arms of Wm. Penn. 



TO 

THE FREE-HOLDERS 
Of the Province of Pennsylvania. 

Friends and Countrymen, 
As the Time approaches for chusing Representatives in i\\e.General- 
Asscnibly for the ensuing Year, it behoves every Man, that wishes 
his Country's Prosperity, to exert his utmost Endeavours to put an 
End to the Dissentions which have been industriously fomented 
by some amongst us ; who, under the pretence of Zeal for the pub- 
lick Good, have too much indulged their own Passions, and have 
brought all into Confusion. It is Criminal under these unhappy 
Circumstances to be Silent ; it is Criminal to be Neutral and Un- 
concerned. — Let us banish therefore all Prejudice and Partiallity : 
Let us shut our Ears against Calumny and Detraction, and re- 
solve to restore Peace to our Country, and Peace will be restored. 
The Governor has declared, in his RIessage to the last Assembly, 
That he desires Peace, and he publickly declares. That he zvill not 
leave the Province till this good Work is effected. He has promised, 
if just and equitable Measures are taken to restore Peace, he zvill 
pass all the lazi's that shall be presented to him for the Benefit of the 
Country, and desires that all former Differences may be buried in 
Oblivion. It matters not who has been right or who has been 
wrong in the late unhappy Disputes. The Question is now, 
Whether zve shall restore Peace to the Province, in, which our Happi- 
ness and the Reputation of our Country is so immediately con- 
cerned? 

The Enemies to the Publick Welfare, not satisfied with having 
already brought our Affairs under the greatest Distresses, are 
still blowing the Coals. The Gratification of their private Re- 

26 



sentments prevails with them over all other Considerations. — 
Where must these Distractions End? Can they possibly he the 
Means of any g-ood to us? — We are already too sensible to the ill 
Effects of them. The Fiz'c Pound Act, which was so beneficial to 
us, is expired. The Act for chiising Inspectors, which is so neces- 
sary to prevent Tumults and preserve the Freedom of our Elec- 
tions, is expired, and others of as great Importance to the Publick, 
will expire next Year. The Tenth of October next will put an End 
to the Trustees of the Loan-OfUcc, so that should the Disagreement 
between the Governor and Assembly continue, there will be no 
Trustees legally empower'd to lend out the Publick Money, to 
such of the industrious Inhabitants as may stand in need of it for 
the improvement of their Lands, nor to receive the Interest 
Money for defraying the anual Expences of the Province. This 
will not only hurt the Credit of our Paper Money, which has been 
so beneficial to us, but bring us under the Burthen of a Provincial 
Tax ; nor can we have any hopes to see our drooping Trade revive, 
by a further Addition to our Currency, which, as our Inhabitants 
have of late greatly increased, is thought by many to be very nec- 
essary. — These are Matters wortiiy of our strictest Attention at 
all Times, but more especially now, since upwards of Ten Thousand 
Pounds of the Publick Money has been squandered away, and we 
are run foiir Thousand Pounds in Debt.- — Under these Circum- 
stances, is it not absolutely necessary that the publick Accounts 
should be strictly examined into? We have a right to know how 
the publick Money has been disposed of, and the late Members of 
Assembly cannot but know we have, and yet they have hitherto 
concealed those Accounts from us, in hopes by this Means to ]jre- 
vent a publick Detection of their Mismanagement, if it may not 
deserve a worse Name, till it will be too late for us to shew a 
proper resentment. If all was fair, why were not their Minutes 
published immediately after their last Adjournment? Why is the 
Publication artfully deferr'd till they have taken their Measures 
for getting themselves re-elected? 

These Enemies to the publick Peace are now so artful as to 
cover their real Designs, under a pretence of Zeal for the publick 
Good, They endeavor to alarm us with Designs upon our Liber- 
ties, and terrify us with the Severities of a Militia Law; and thus 
will they blacken the Actions of every Man that opposes them, by 
calling that an Invasion of our religious and civil Rights, which 
would have been necessary in Case of a War with France, for the 
security of our Wives, our Children and our Properties. But it is 
hoped the Free men of Pennsylvania will not suffer themselves to 
be so deluded, that they will not be deceived by false colouring; 

27 



and bad Names ; but will examine Matters to the Bottom, and as it 
is now in their Power, restore Peace to their suffering Country. 

A Militia, it is true, was proposed by the Governor near three 
Years ago, upon the first breaking out of the War with Spain, and 
when a War with France was daily apprehended, with an express 
Offer of Indulgence to Persons conscientiously persuaded against 
bearing Arms. But the Governor has not pressed it since, and as 
we have no Hopes of a general Peace in Europe, that Matter is 
quite out of the present Question. It is true likewise, that a con- 
siderable Number of the Inhabitants petition'd the King, that the 
Province might be put in a posture of Defence in Case of a War 
with France. But this was so far from being an Injury to us, that 
it was the means of preventing many from removing their Fami- 
lies and Effects to other Places of more safety; which if they had 
done, the Trade of the Country must have declined much more 
than it has done. It is to be fear'd however, that the insecurity of 
Mens Properties, and the confining our Confidence to one particu- 
lar set of Men, with an apparent disregard and distrust of all 
others (tho' some of them had served the Publick faithfully in 
former Assembly's) may have sowered the Minds of many, and 
may be one reason for the discouragement of Building, the decline 
of Trade, and the low Price of all our Country Produce, when 
compared with our Neighbours. Let us consider seriously with 
ourselves, can the Governor's having proposed a Militia Law near 
three (years?) ago, when Danger was apprehended, be a Reason 
for confining our Choice at this Time to a particular Set of Men, 
who have squander'd away the publick Money and involved us in 
such a Scene of Contention., as every considering Man cannot but 
see must End fatally to us? No, it is plain that this Dispute is 
artfully revived by the Enemies of our Peace, to procure them- 
selves to be reelected. 

If these men had nothing else in View but the good of their 
Country, they would not have recourse to falsehood to get them- 
selves returned into the next Assembly. A good Intention 
stands in need of no such ill Practices. They would not have 
publish'd false Reports of the Ncw-Castlc Militia Act, or of the In- 
habitants Petition to the King. They would not have publish'd 
false Accounts of Severity's exercised in the lower Counties upon 
such as are principled against bearing Arms. All such are ex- 
empted from bearing Arms upon their producing a Certi- 
ficate of their being Quakers, and the other Inhabitants of 
those Counties are so far from complaining of that Law, that it is 
universally acknowledg'd by them, to have been contrived with the 
greatest Regard to their Ease : Besides the continuance of that 

28 



Law is limitted to the War ; for so soon as the War shall end. the 
Law will expire. — Are not these flagrant Instances of an imhit- 
ter'd Spirit, and of a determined Resolution to hew down Truth 
and every Thing else that stands in the Way of their Designs? 

It wou'd be a severe Reflection upon, and the highest prejudice 
to, the Inhabitants of this Province, to suppose that the late Mem- 
bers are the only Men fit to represent us in Assembly. Are there 
not Numbers amongst us of Knowledge, at least, equal to these? 
Are there not Numbers of equal Probity? Are there not Num- 
bers of approved Fidelity and Zeal for the Liberties of the People? 
Can it be supposed, that such will wantonly make Shipwreck of our 
Liberties, and consent at the same time to enslave themselves and 
their Posterity? What temptation can a Governor throw in 
their way great enough to engage them in such a Crime? Our 
late Representatives have brought all into Confusion, and have 
drank too deep of the Cup of Bitterness to be proper Instruments 
for healing our imhappy Divisions. A Country divided against 
itself must be ruined. If therefore we have any Regard for our 
Country, if we have any Regard for our own Peace or for our 
Reputation abroad, let our Choice fall upon such as are most likely 
to reconcile our Differences. Do but resolve upon Peace and 
there will be Peace. Our Laws will be renewed, the Credit of 
our Paper Money will be preserved, and our Trade will be restored 
to its former flourishing Condition. On the Contrary, if these 
unhappy Differences subsist much longer amongst us, one may, 
without a Spirit of Prophecy, pronounce our excellent Constitu- 
tion will soon be at an End. 

Endorsed against the Election of 1742 



To the FREEHOLDERS of the Province 
of Pcunsylvama. 

GENTLEMEN, 

The Government of this Province, with the Territories belong- 
ing to it, was at its first Settlement in 1682, and for about Twenty 
six years afterwards, compounded of a Provincial Council and 
Assembly, both of which were chosen by the People the former 
had the Power to prepare and propose the Bills, and the latter to 
judge of their fitness, and pass them into Laws. Tho' the Gov- 
ernor presided in the Provincial Council, yet he was restrained, by 
his own voluntary Agreement, from medling with, or doing any 
Act whatsoever relating to the JUSTICE, TRADE, TREASURY 
or SAFETY of the Province without their Consent. Neither 
could he commission any Persons to serve for Judges or Masters 
of the Rolls, nor consequently for Prothonataries or other Officers 
for the Custody of the Records, but such as the Provincial Council 
should present to him. And the Assembly in like Manner were to 
present the Persons to serve for Sheriffs, Justices of the Peace, 
and Coroners. Thus the making of the Laws, which is called the 
Legislative Power, and the putting the Laws in Execution, which 
is called the Executive Power, were entirely lodged in such Per- 
sons as the People should annually appoint. 

At present the whole Executive Power, except the Sheriffs and 
Coroners, is vested in the Governor. Lie not only nominates the 
Judges in all the Courts of Common-Pleas, and encreases, their 
Number when and as often as he pleases, but as we are told by the 
Proprietaries, he can turn tJicm out ivhcn he thinks fit. He has the 
same Power over the Judges of the Supreme-Court, only that 
their Number is limited by an Act of Assembly. And as no Bills 
can pass into Laws without his Approbation, the People have now 
no other Share left in the Government than to prepare them, by 
their Delegates, for his Assent. 

Such great Incroachment on the natural Rights and Liberties 
of the People could never have been made if their Representatives 
had not given their Consent. Our own Experience then, without 
having recourse to foreign Examples, shows we cannot be too 
careful in the Choice of our Delegates. What we have lost is ir- 
reparable ; for Power is hard-hearted, and will never give up what 
it has once acquired. Let us therefore trust None who are 
under the Shadow or Influence of it ; and lea.st of all those Judges 
and Magistrates to whom the Interpretation and Execution of 
the Laws are committed, and who hold their Places at the Will 
of the Governor. Should a Majority composed of such get into 
the Assembly, as is now attempted, the Legislative and Executive 

30 



Power would be in the same Hands, which is the very Essence and 
Definition of Tyrany. 

1 1 is absolutely impossible for the People to maintain the Lib- 
erty left them, unless those two Powers be kept distinct and inde- 
pendent of one another. "No Government can be free," says the 
first Proprietor, unless the Laws rule, and the People are a Party 
to those Laws." Now how can the Law rule, if the Interpreters 
of it should be accountable only to themselves for willful Miscon- 
structions and corrupt Judgments? In England the Judges never 
were nor can be by the Constitution, members of Parliament. 
Yet as they hold Places there during good Behaviour, the reasons 
against chusing such as Representatives here, are much stronger, 
since they hold their Places but during Pleasure. It may be ob- 
jected that it has been a Custom to chuse some of our Judges to 
represent us. But it was a Custom of pernicious Tendency and of 
evil Example ; and since we are now got happily quit of it, I hope 
none will be found so hardy as to plead for it again. 

Most of the Seats of Judicature throughout the Province have 
been lately modelled according to the Governors Fancy. Many 
new Judges have been created, and several old ones have been 
turned out. It would be absurd to suppose that the Creatures of 
the Governor (for we may so call them since they are created by 
him, and that their Being depends upon his Breath) think differ- 
ently from their Creator. He thinks, and so do the Proprietors, 
that the Assembly ought not to sit on their own Adjournments, 
and have the sole Disposition of the publick Money. The Gov- 
ernor's Creatures, no doubt, think so too; and therefore if they 
carry the approaching Election, we cannot flatter ourselves that 
those Privileges will be any longer continued to us. Others too 
may be taken away. Perhaps the powei'' of chusing the Inspect- 
ors, and of judging of the Qualifications of Electors, may be trans- 
ferred to the Governor's Creatures, under the suspicious pretence 
of preventing Tumults, as was formerly attempted ; and so we 
shall all be legally ruined and undone. A childish Declaimer asks, 
IVIiat Temptation can a Governor throw in their Way great enough to 
engage them in such a Crime? But if he inquires into the Motives 
that induced several of them in their inferiour Courts to arraign 
the Proceedings of the High Court of Assembly, before it was 
dissolved, and as much as in them lay, to bring that Branch of the 
ligislative, which is the only Barrier the People have to oppose 
against arbitrary Power, into Contempt : If he informs himself 
how far it is consistent with the Characters of Judges to ride about 
the Country begging of Votes for themselves to be chosen Mem- 
bers of Assembly : I say, if he inquires into the Reason of so 

31 



much Zeal, he will, possibly, find an easy Solution to his Question. 
He has no Objection against our present Representatives on Ac- 
count of their Aversion to a Militia-Aci; for,that Point, as he says, 
is now quite out of the present Dispute. Yet, tho' they are all in- 
dependent, tho' none of them have Places depending on the Gov- 
ernor, he would have us change them for Place-Men ; (for such he 
must mean tho' he does not mention them, since they are the 
Candidates) and on these Conditions he graciously offers us 
Peace. This pleasant Proposal puts me in Mind of a Fable as- 
cribed to Dcmosthows. The Occasion was this. Philip of Maccdon 
having invested Athens, and reduced the Inhabitants to great Ex- 
tremity, offered to raise the Siege, and enter into a Treaty of 
Peace with them if they would banish some of the Principal Men 
of the City who had opposed him the most vigorously. Upon 
which Demosthenes told the Athenians the following Story. Onec 
upon a Time the IVohes proposed a League of Friendship zvith the 
Sheep, on Condition they wotdd remove their Shepherds, against whom 
the IP'ohes zvere ahvays holding as the Cause of Contention betzveen 
them and the Sheep. These from their Desire of Peace stupidly con- 
sented . The immediate Consequence of zn'hich zvas, that the Wolves 
zi'ithout Mercy devoured the Sheep. 

There is not, Gentlemen, any one Reason offered you for 
changing your Representatives, at this Juncture, but what ought 
to be of the greatest Weight with you for continuing them. The 
Governor's Creatures publickly declare, that he will pass no Bills 
whatsoever into Laws if the present Delegates be re-elected. I 
will not, I ought not to believe that the Governor ever said so; 
for that would be saying neither more nor less than that we must 
either suffer him to chuse our Representative for us, or else he 
will dissolve the Ties of Government, and bring all Things into 
Confusion. Should His Majesty's Ministers make such a Dec- 
laration 'mEngland,\\o\\ many Impeachments andBills of Attainder 
would it produce? Tyburn would crack with the load of Tray- 
tors. 

The Governor's Creatures do also give out, that tho' the 
Assembly be changed, he will not revive the temporary Laws, 
lately dropped (by whom by the Way, may be the Subject of a 
public Inquiry) unless he be paid his Arrearages. Now the sup- 
plies allowed to the Governor of Pennsylvania was always a free 
Gift. It cannot therefore be claimed as a Debt. Besides to lay 
the People under such Difficulties as to oblige them to give up 
their Money, and to take it from them directly by an armed Force, 
is to do one and the same Thing by two different Methods. By 
the fourth Law agreed upon in England by the Proprietor and 

?>2 



first Adventurers, it was stipulated, "That no Money sliould be 
"levied on the People of this Province by Way of public Tax. 
"Custom or Contribution but by a Law for that Purpose made; 
"and that whosoever should levy, collect or pay any Money or 
"goods contrary thereunto, should be held a public Enemy to the 
"Province and a Betrayer of the Liberties of the People thereof. 
We are not a free People, if we cannot redress our just Griev- 
ances unless we part first with our Money. And if our Repre- 
sentatives at their last Convention had agreed to do it on any 
other Terms, it is plain, that in the Sense of the Paragraph just 
now cited, they would be deemed Betrayers of your Liberties. 

A s every just Government must be derived from the Consent,* 
so it cannot be supported but by the Affections of the People. 
Your domestic Enemies, Gentlemen, and it is impossible you 
should, have any such, without being at the same Time, Enemies 
to God, to their King and their Country, have endeavoured to ter- 
rify you out of your Liberties. But they have at last plaid their 
Game so openly, that the very Women look into their Plands. 
Your unanimous disdain of such Candidates at the approaching 
Election will infallibly restore Peace and Tranquility among us; 
for thereby our Adversaries will be convinced of the Vanity and 
Absurdity of the attempts to govern Freemen against their Con- 
sent. One of the Articles of impeachment against the Earl of 
Clarendon in the Reign oiKmgCharlcs 2. was, That he endeavoured 
to introduce an arbitrary Power in the Plantations, which, if it had 
been true, he acknowledged he had forfeited his Head. That up- 
right Ministers well knew of what importance the Colonies were to 
Grcal Britain, and that the surest Method of multiplying the Brit- 
ish Subjects in America, and of preserving their Affection to the 
Mother Country was to establish FREEDOM amongst them, and 
guard them from Oppressions. 

T o conclude. The Facts I have laid before you are of public 
Notoriety. The Arguments they suggest are plain and obvious 
to every Man of common Sense, Truth and a good Cause stand 
in need of no Artifice or Disguise. That silly Scribler, which I be- 
fore took Notice of, has told you, that under our present unhappy 
Circumstances, it is criminal to be silent, it is criminal to be neutral 

a>id unconcern d but he forgot to have told you that it is a 

thousand Times more criminal to be concerned on the criminal 
Side. 

I am 

Gentlemen, 

Your most humble Servant 
Endorsed Against the Elections of 174 2 A. B. 

*Note the germ of a sentence in the Declaration of Independence. 

33 



The LETTER To 
THE FREE-HOLDERS 
Of the Province of Pennsylvania, 
Continued. 
Friends and Countrymen, 
THAT our Province is disturbed with Contentions and Party 
Heat, and that the Money accruing from the Excise, and the In- 
terest received yearly into the Loan Office (which arises from the 
Labour and Sweat of our Inhabitants) is squandered away in 
ridiculous Negociations and empty Pretentions to support Lib- 
erties and Privileges, are Facts not to be denyed. Are not the 
late Assembly defeated in their applications to England? And is 
not their conduct like to bring down just Resentments of his 
Majesty upon the Province? What will be the consequence of 
their Doings, may be fully seen by the Report of the Lords of 
Trade lately come over. If we take a particular review of the 
horrid IVaste of the publick Money, it will also further convince 
us they are the most unfit of any Men in our Province to be con- 
tinued as our Representatives; for as longas Men of heated Pas- 
sions are intrusted with the Publick Treasury, nothing can ever be 
expected but that to support their extravagancy of Temper, they 
will lay aside all Duty or Consideration of the publick Interest, to 
defend their embarrased Schemes and support their sunk Repu- 
tations. Have we not flagrant Instances before us of the profuse 
and extravagant Conduct of these Men with Regard to the publick 
Money? Have they not inconsiderately transmitted Three 
Thousand Pounds to Great Britain for a chimercial Purpose ? And 
have they not lodged this Money to be squandered away in sup- 
port of their own fantastical Projects and trifling Solicitations? 
Have they not, in a Manner, sunk Seventeen Hundred Pounds in 
the Purchase of a Tide-Swamp to finish the Misery of Foreigners? 
When a Place, better answering all the Ends proposed, might 
have been purchased for the Twentieth Part of the Expence ; and 
is it not evident that this Project will bring a considerable anual 
Charge to keep it above Water? it being the first instance that was 
ever heard of in any part of the World, that a Marsh is a proper 
Place to erect an Hospital. Have not they combined to divide a 
large Share of publick Money for pretended Services among them- 
selves? Has not a leading Member of this ever-memorable Con- 
vention received Fifty Pounds to himself alone, for Tzu'entv Days 
Service as King's Attorney? Has he not likewise had large 
Shares of the publick Money from drawing Bills, Rejoinders, 
Answers, Replys, and to spin out Matters for a seven Years Con- 
tention? Have not large Sums been divided among secret Com- 

34 



mittee-Men, Inquisitors and Negotiators of a Lower Rank? Have 
they not visibly sunk us Ten Tlwusand Pounds witliin these two 
Years, emptied the Treasury, and left us Four Thousand Pounds in 
Debt? Which Money they have issued out of the Bills made for 
Changing the old and ragged Money, and which from the Disap- 
pointment many Persons have met with in their repeated Api)iica- 
tions to the Office for that Purpose has rendered a great Part of our 
Currency in a Condition not fit to pass amongst us, and this they 
have done expresly contrary to Law, since it was lodged in the 
Trustees Hands for exchanging defaced Bills, and is by no Means 
subject to any Orders from the Assembly; the Law is to be a 
Direction to the Trustees for the disposal of that Money, and they 
are liable to a Prosecution if they transgress it; the Assembly 
have by this Means deceived the People : This Money must be 
replaced, and if it cannot be done in any other Way (of which there 
is hardly a possibility) it must be by a Provincial Tax; this will in- 
deed open the Eyes of the People, and then they may wish they 
had hearkened to the Advice of prudent Men when it will be too 

late. They have, it is true, been charged publickly with 

keeping back their Minutes, and with not printing the publick 
Accounts ; but how do they Clear themselves of the Charge? Why 
their Printer is pleased to tell us, that they gave no Orders to de- 
lay the Printing of them: But this piece of equivocal Sophistry 
will not satisfy the People of Pennsylvania : Did they give him Or- 
ders to print them immediately after the Sessions, as has been 
usual with all other Assemblies, or was a Committee appointed 
for that purpose? or have that Committee done it? The Truth 
of the Matter is, they are not yet published, nor will they be till 
they have done all in their Power to secure their being Re- 
Elected : Their Printer goes on and fays, a Sight of the Minutes 
has not been denied to any that Iiazr asked to see them. Let us ask this 
Advocate for his Masters, who have upon all Occasions paid him 
so well, has any a Right to a Sight of the Assembly's Votes till 
they are printed? Has the Printer a Right to show every Man 
the written Minutes? Or could any considerate Person think it 
just he should do so? No surely: Had not the Assembly them- 
selves been Apprehensive of the Peoples Dissatisfaction with them 
for their squandering away the publick Money, they would no 
doubt e're now been printed. Good Men fear not an enquiry 
into their Actions, but desire they may be publickly known. 

To such a Height is the indiscreet Madness of these Men 
grown, that many among them now declare, that they wish for a 
Change of our Government, rather than own that they have been in 
the wrong, or admit of falling upon \Vays to reconcile the present 

35 



Differences; they are disposed to part with all the great Conces- 
sions granted to them by our late Honourable Proprietors, 
rather than lay aside their favourite Passions, for that must be the 
Case if the Government is given up into the Hands of the Crovk^n ; 
we must then be upon a level with the rest of his Majesty's Colo- 
nies, though at present (if we knew when we are well) we are, in 
many respects, in a happier Condition: We have anual Assem- 
blies, we have the Choice of our Sheriffs, and many other Privi- 
leges as our undoubted Rights. When Mr. Fletcher had a Com- 
mission from the King for being Governor of this Province, he 
issued out Writs to chuse an Assembly, and appointed Sheriffs, 
without any Regard to the Charter that subsisted then among us: 
Can these People therefore be proper Advocates for our Liberties 
who would willingly part with so many valuable Privileges to 
gratify their Passions and private Revenge. The Militia and 
Forts they now make use of as Bugbears to affright weak People : 
Will they not of course attend a change of our Government? 
Is there any Province belonging to the King where a Militia is 
not appointed by Law, or where there are not Batteries and For- 
tifications for Defence? How consistent then are these Mens 
Proceedings with their many and high. Declarations of maintain- 
ing our Liberties and Privileges? If we therefore desire to have 
our excellent Constitution preserved and many valuable Privileges 
continued to us ; if we desire to avoid the Oppression of heavy 
Fees in petty Law Sutes ; if we would promote the Prosperity of 
the landed Interests and give Life to our Trade abroad and in- 
courage Industry at home; if we ever desire to see Peace again in 
our Days in this our distracted Country, let us take time by the 
Fore-lock and make use of the Opportunity we now have ; and let 
every Man of every Rank and Denomination joyn Heart and 
Hand to rescue our Country from the impending Evils these men 
are like to bring upon us. — Let us put it out of their Power for 
the future to support their own private Quarrels and Contentions 
with the Country's Money. — And let us direct our Choice to such 
Men as are likely to restore that Harmony and Peace which 
formerly subsisted among us, and like true lovers of our Country 
let us at this Time show our Zeal for the Common Good, by mak- 
ing choice of such Men whose Hands have not been the Instru- 
ments of our present Distractions and threatening Ruin. But 
especially let us avoid those, who, at all adventures, will run the 
Province into the utmost Extremity to execute their implacable 
Resentments. 

The Freeholders 
Endorsed ,-(.(yj pyiend and Countryman 

Against the Elections T. B. 

of 1742 

36 



BY THE HON (DURABLE 
GEORGE THOMAS, Esq; 

Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief of tlic Province of 
Pciiiisyk'aiiia, and the Counties of NciiJ-Castlc, Kent and Sussex 
upon Delaware. 

A PROCLAMATION. 

WHEREAS, by the express Orders of the Hon. the Proprietaries, 
no Warrant or License has issued out of the Land-O/Ecc for taUin<r 
up or setthng any Lands in the County of Lancaster, to the IVest- 
zvard of the KittoeJitinny-Hills otherwise called the Endless or Blue 
Mountains, so that all such as have presum'd to possess themselves 
of any Lands there, are manifest Intruders ; and, as such, liable by 
the Laws to be removed, and, in Case of Refusal, to be committed 
to Prison and severely Fined. 

AND WHEREAS the Indians at the Treaty made with tliem in 
the Month of July last, did complain that they were greatly dis- 
turbed and injured by Peoples settling at Juniata and in other Parts 
of the County of Lancaster to the Westward of those Hills, and be- 
came earnest Petitioners that all such Persons might be made to 
remove from thence. I favouring the Request of the said Indi- 
ans, and to the End that all Persons concerned may have sufficient 
Notice of the Dangers they incur from their Resentment, and the 
Violation of the Laws, Have thought fit to issue this my Procla- 
mation, hereby strictly requiring all Persons who have presum'd 
to possess themselves of any Lands situate in the Places aforesaid, 
or in any Part of the said County of Lancaster to the Westward of 
the aforesaid Ridge of Mountains, or who have seated themselves 
on any Tracts appropriated to the use of the Indians on this side of 
those Hills, forthwith to leave their Possessions and remove off 
them with their Families and Effects, as they will answer the con- 
trary at their highest Peril. And as by reason of the approaching 
Winter, some may not be able to provide themselves with fit Habi- 
tations or, with the Necessaries of Life, if they should be compell'd 
immediately to leave their Houses- and Plantations, the Removal 
of such as are in these Circumstances is respited to the Urst Day of 
May next, the longest Time that will be allowed any one to con- 
tinue in the Possession of any Land so situate as aforesaid. 
AND I DO hereby require the Sheriff of Lancaster County to 
publish this Proclamation at the Court-House of the said County, 
and to cause Copy's thereof to be affixed at the most publick 

37 



Places, and particularly at Juniata and from thence all along on the 
Banks of the Kizrr Susquehanna tO' IVyoincn, and at Licking-Crcck 
Hills near the Riz'cr Patoiamcck, that none may pretend Ignorance 
thereof. 

Given at PHILADELPHIA under my Hand and the Great 
Seal of the said Province, the Fifth Day of October 1742 in 
the Sixteenth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord 
GEORGE the Second, by the Grace of God of Great- 
Britain, France and Ireland, KING Defender of the Faith, 
etc. 

GEORGE THOMAS. 

GOD Save the KING. 

Endorsed "The Governour.s Proclamation 
forbidding the Settling the 
Indian's Lands" 



Pensilvania 1743 

An almanac of Ephemeris etc. years 

Being for the creation of the world 5747 

Landing of Julius Caesar in England I797 

Royal Grant of Pensilvania * 63. 

by Jacob Taylor etc. 

Philadelphia Printed and sold by Isaiah Warner almost opposite to 
Charles Brockdcn's in Chestnut Street giving besides the usual alma- 
nac news the times of meeting of the Provincial Courts in Penna., 
Md., and N. J. 



The American Almanack 

for the year of Christian Account 1744 etc. Fitted to the latitude of 
Forty Degrees, by John Jerman Philomath, etc. Printed and sold by 
/. Warner and C. Bradford at the Bible in Front Street. 

38 



Feb. 14. 1744 

THIS INDENTURE made the fourteenth day of Feb- 
ruary One Thousand Seven hun/d. and Ifourty four Between 
William Coats of the Northern Liberties of the City of Phila. Yeoman 
of the One part and Thomas Leech of the s/d. City of Philadelpliia 
Merch/t. of the other part. Whereas the s/d Thomas Leech is now 
about to fence in the piece of Land lately belonging John Stacey 
dec/d. And the Creek called Cohockson Creek the Bounda betwixt 
the s/d. William Coats his Land and the s/d.Staceys Land, and it being 
represented by the s/d Thomas Leech to the s/d William Coats the 
ftence cannot be made secure and fixed so as to remain any time along 
s/d Creek side in the Soft mud on the s/d Stacys side of the Creek Now 
This Indenture Witnesseth That the s/d William Coats as well for and 
upon the Consideration afores/d. as of the paym/t. of the Rent and in 
and by this present Indenture reserved Hath given granted devised set 
and to lYarm Let and by these presents doth give grant devise set and 
to ffarm Let unto the s/d Thomas Leech his heirs and Assigns all those 
slips or narrow pieces of Swamp or Marsh Ground along the Creek 
where any such shall happen to be betwixt the Creek and fifast Land 
along the Creek as far as the same is the Boundary betwixt the s/d two 
Tracts of Land. And also full right License Liberty privilege and 
Authority to Errect and place the Division ffence upon the Edge of the 
fast Land on the said Coats his Side of the Creek all along the side of 
the s/d Bank as far as the Creek divides betwixt the s/d two Tracts of 
Land To have and to hold the s/d slips or narrow pieces of Marsh 
Ground or Swamp and premises with all the Rights Liberties and 
priviledges hereby granted or mentioned to be granted with the ap- 
purtenanses unto the s/d Thomas Leech his heirs a^d assigns to the 
only proper Use and behoof of the s/d Thomas Leech his heirs and 
assigns for ever Yielding and paying unto the said William Coats his 
heirs and Assigns the Yearly Rent of ffive Shillings Lawful money of 
Pensilvania on the Twenty fififth day of March for Ever. 
The first payment to be and commence on the Twenty fifth day of 
March One thousand Seven hundred and fifourty six Reserving never- 
theless unto s/d William Coats his heirs and Assigns full and fifree Lib- 
erties and privelege of Convenient Watering place or places to and 
for the accommodation of any Lott or Lotts hereinafter to be 
fenced in or Leased Out fifronting the s/d Creek and Boundary. 
And the s/d William Coats for himself his heirs Exect/rs and Admin- 
ist/rs, doth Covennt. promise and grant to and with s/d Thomas Leech 
his heirs and Assigns That he the s/d Tho/s. Leech his heirs and as- 
signs paying the Rent hereby reserved and performing and keeping the 
Reservations and Covenants herein Specifycd shall and Lawfully may 
from time to time and at all times hereafter freely quietly and peacea- 

39 



bly have hold and enjoy the hereby granted or mentioned to be granted 
premisses with the appurtenances without any the Lawfull Let suit 
Trouble or Molestation of any person or persons whatsoever by from 
or under him them or any of them. In Witness whereof the s/d parties 
to these presents have In(ter)changeably to these present Indentures 
set their hands and Seals 

Dated this Day and Year first above Written 

William Coats [Seal.] 
Sealed and Delivered 
in the presence of 
the Word (Six) being made 
first in the twenty third 
Line 

Reese Peter 



his 
Hugh m Ross 

Mark 



The American Weekly Mercury Num. 1272. 

From May 17 to May 24. 1744. 
Containing news of the action of Admiral Mathews with the Dragon, 
Warwick, and Winchelsea, against the combined French and Spanish 
Fleets off Toulon. 

Boston May 14. Last Saty Ev'g a ship arrived here in five weeks and 
2 days from Glasgow with translation of the French King's Ordonance 
declaring war against England dated March 15. 1744. and a copy of 
the declaration of War by the King of Great Britain against the 
French King. etc. 



The Pennsylvania Gazette June 14, 1744. Numb 809. containing 
Proclamation by the Hon. Geo. Thomas, etc., etc. 



Supplement to the Pennsylvania Gazette N/o 867. 
Phila. July 25, 1745. containing message of the Governor to the Gen. 
.\ssembly of the Province, and the resolution of the latter granting 
£ 40Q0 to the King's use. 



40 



The account book from which the followinj^ notes are taken seems 
to have served the original owner Dr. Taylor and his granddaughter's 
husband General Persifor Frazer 

ACCOUNT BOOK OF DR. JOHN TAYLOR 



Note 
Bond 

Bond 
Note 


page 11 

John Taylor to Jacob Taylor to be paid on 

Demand Dated the 29"' of Decern' 1757 for 
Jn° Taylor to James Broom Dated 8'" Jan^. 1759 

for 
Assurr'd by Jacob Taylor the g'" of Jan', the 

same year and Assign 'd by s'' James Broom 6'" July foil". 
Jn° Taylor to Ja" Broom dated 25'" Novem' 1758 
a Judgm' Assum'' and Assign'd as above, for 
Jn° Taylor to James Broom dated, the 4'" 

Decern' 1758 for 
Assum'd and Assign'd as above 


3 • 
6 . . 

11 . . 

2 . . 


II . . 

16. . 

3 • 


10 




23 . . 


10 


10 


P 39 

Jn" Hart D' 

To Cash at G. Aliens: B:Wlne 

To Cash Keelars 

To D- fair w' R C etc 

To D» Bevans J. M 

To D" D» 

To D" Beelan 

To D° Bevans, S. . W 

To D° d° 

To d° d° S O 

To w'" J. Hart do 

To d» C: K d 

To d» 

To d° Mason 

To d° Sunday Keelars 

To d° Kemiers (?) 

To d° C: C: H 

To d° d" 




I . . 
I . . 
I . . 

I . . 

I . . 
I . . 
I . . 

I . . 

. . 

1 . . 
I . . 
I . . 


2 

9 
10 

9 

3 

II 

9 


3 
3 
9 
4 

I0>^ 

4 
6 


£ 


. . 


18. . 


8 


page 71 

My 

1738 

The 
trouble 
The 
The wee 
of her por 
and twen 
amounted 
and ten y 
April 
1739 

October 
1739 


Copy of Ace' out of a Memorandum Book of 

Doctor Taylor. 
Daughter Martha was Married the 23'' of Novem' 
to W" Empson 

Expence of her Wedding dinner besides 
etc. amt" to / 
Cloathes she had ag" her Marriage Am' to 
rc after She was Married 1 gave her in part 
tion a Horse which Cost 
y Pistoles which with y" common advance 
to 
ards Ozenbrigs @ 

1 gave him a suit of BroadCloath 
with trimmings w"" came to 

I gave her a Plush Side Saddle which Cost 
a looU-ing Glass 

Some household Stuff, callico and Linnen 
w'" necessaries for dying in w""" came to 


25. . 
24 . . 

16. . 

28. . 

9 . . 

5 ■ 
I . . 

13 • 


10 . . 
19 . 

12 . . 

4 • 

5 ■ 
18. . 

15 


— 




125 . . 


3 • ■ 


— 



41 



ACCOUNT BOOK OF DR. JOHN TAYLOR (Continued) 





Am' brought Forward 


125 . . 


3 • ■ 


— 


Nov' 

22 


a large Trunk 




— . . 


— 




to Cash to his Wife 




— ■ • • 


— 




:o a frying pan 




S . . 
6. . 


6 




to a warming Pan 






Dec' 
4 


to Cash to himself 




10 . . 


— 


12 


My Wife carr'' him Linnen and other goods 










to the value of 




4 ■ • 


9 


March 


to pay 








1740 


to Cash to his Wife A for nursmg his Child 




10 . . 




br 
' 13 


To a Tea Kettle, Spoons, dishes and 










Furniture w"" tea 




14 • . 


— 


April 
1741 


To Sundries ag' her lying in Viz his wife 


5 • • 


10 . . 


— 


Aur' 3 


To Sundry goods delivered to her at the 










amt« to 




19. . 


6 


1742 










lV\ay 


To goods did to my daughter Martha 










to the Value of 




15 . . 


— 


i74«' 










Jans' 










30 


To a Servant Girl nam'd Mary Simmons 


6. . 


. . 


— 


1744 










Ap'i6 


To Cash p'' Thomas Booth for William Empson 

A3 


8- 


5 • • 


8 




173 . . 


6. . 


5 




page 73 








1744 


Am' bro' forward 


173 . . 


6. . 


5 


July 










20 


To 50 lb feathers 
To a Mare and Colt 

Jn" Taylor advance 


4 • 
12 . . 


II . . 


8 




189. . 


18. . 


1 




215 • • 


13 . ■ 


I 




Martha Empson 


166. . 


8 . . 


7 




Philip Taylor 


H4. . 


15 . . 


2 




Jacob Taylor 


15. . 


10 . . 






512 . . 


6. . 


10 




1007 • 


9. . 


8 




page 74 








Ace' of Physic which William Empson had for 










his Family etc since his Marriage 








1738 










Dec 










15'" 


for his negro Woman Physick amounting to 




10 . . 




20 


Physick for himself to y' Value of 


'. 


7 • ■ 


6 


1739 

10'^ 


















]V\ay 


Physick for himself to y° Value of 




5 . . 


6 


Octo 










17 


Physick for his Wife himself and family 










which came to 


I . . 


10 . . 




Dec' 


to Physic for his Wife and family w"'' came to 




17 ■ ■ 


6 


March 








1740 


To Physick for his servant Girl and Boy 


, ■ 


12 . . 


6 



42 



ACCOUNT BOOK OF DR. JOHN TAYLOR (Continued) 

page 74 (continued) 



Aug' 
Octo. 
April 

1741 
IWarch 

1742 

July 

and 
Aug' 
1742-3 
Jan^ 
8 
Mar : 
Nov. 

29 



To physick for Negroes 
To d° for his Self and Child 

To Sundrys for his family to Value of 

To Sundrys for his family to y"" value of 

To Sundrys for his family to the value of 



To Cash to pay his Ditchers 
To Cash to pay the Ditchers 

To a saddle 



page 75 

am' bro' forward 
To one pair Boots 
To Physick 



Total am' of the ac' 
ag' W'° Empson 



page 76 

October 26"' 1748 Then Commenceth the ace' 

of my Donations to my son Philip Taylor 
To 1 C. flour 

lo a pott 1 5-. a ffryin pann 6-6 
An Ax and Hoe 

To two half Barrells and a powdering Tubb 
To 3 yards Ozenbrigs 
One Bushel! Salt 



one hand saw 12-. 
d 

Pratt 



To 7 yards Garlix 
To 2 fin panns 7-6 
one Hammer 2-6 
To 315 lb Beef @ _ 
To a p' Boots from Jos 
To no lb Pork ©2)4 
To 10 lb Tallow 
One pair Shoes 
To 2 Bushells Oats 
To Cash to his Wife 
To 2 Bushells JWalt 
To Raccoon Hatt 

To Cash p'' Hannah Lindly for him 
To one felt Hatt 



page 77 

Am' bro' forward 
To 26 y''' Ozenbrigs 
To 2 Bushell Oats 
To Cash to John Taylor for Smith 

work done for him 
Tin Ware 5-. Six Chairs 18-. 
a Trunk 
Feather Bed and Furniture 

43 



£ 



£ 



£ 



25 • 



27 . 
189. 



£ 



17 



15 



217 . 



6 
6 

6 

6 

6 



II 

6 

6 
6 
6 



ACCOUNT BOOK OF DR. JOHN TAYLOR (Continued) 





page 77 (continued) 










To two Cows bought of Benj" Sharpless 2 










a Bell 


8 . . 


3 ■ ■ 


6 




To a new Vest 


I . . 


15 . . 


— 




To I p' Shoes 




7 • • 


6 


May 


To two Horses 


16' ' 




— 


20 


To 30 lb Wool @ 14" 


I . . 


15. . 


— 




To 8 yards Ozenbrigs 




16. . 


— 




To one side harness leather 




12 . . 


— 




To an Ox Chain 




8. . 


— 




To a Grinding Stone 




15 . . 


— 


1749 










June 


To one pair Shoes 




7 ■ ■ 


— 


30 












One Hundred flour 


I . . 




• — 




two Bushells IWalt 




10 . . 


— 


July 










26 


To 25 lb Bacon 




12 . . 


6 


Aug' 












To 17 lb Bacon 




8. . 


6 




71 . . 


2 . . 


— 




pace 78 










Am' bro' forward 


71 . . 


2 . . 


_ 




To 1 C flour 




16. . 





Aug' 
15 


To cash p'' a Man who worked for him 


2 . . 




— 


To 7 yards Chucks 




14 . . 





Sep' 










10 


To g'A Bus: Wheat for seed at 5-3 


2 . . 


9 ■ • 


10^ 




To 3 Bus: Seed Rye 




9 ■ ■ 


— 




To 2 Horse Collars 




9 ■ • 


— 


18 


To 'A gall Mellasses 




I . . 


10 




To Ji C flour 




12 . . 


— 


Octo 










20 


To 150 lb flour 


1 . • 


5 ■ • 


— 




To I pair Shoes 




7 ■ - 


— 


30 


To one Fatt Steer 


4 - • 


5 • • 


— 




To one Iron Pott and hook 




12 . . 


— 


Nov' 










2 


To one Hogg 


I . . 




10 




To one Barrell Cyder 




14 . . 


— 




To Turnips 




5 • • 


— 




To one Coat 


3 • • 


7 ■ • 


6 


Nov' 










Dec' 


To goods at Concord 


I . 




— 


20 


To paid for a Cheese press 




12 . ■ 


— 




To goods at Concord 




i; . . 


— 




To one pair Shoes 




7 ■ ■ 


— 




To 2 Bushells Malt 




10 . . 


— 




93 ■ • 


14- . 


'A 




page 79 










Amount bro' forward 


93 • • 


14 ■ 


•A 




To Iron delivered last Spring and 










worked up for him 


2 . . 


16. . 


lo'A 




To a new pair Bound wheels and a good 










Cart Body 


6. . 






Ap' 2 


To one Bushell flaxseed 




12 ■ ■ 





44 



ACCOUNT BOOK OF DR. JOHN TAYLOR (Continued) 

page 79 (continutd) 



7 

20 
27 

1750 
June 

20 

July 
7 

Sep' 

20 

30 


To 5K Bushells of Oats at 3- for Seed 
To ten Ewes with their Lambs and wool 
To 2 young Hoggs 

To I C flour 
2 gallons Mellasses 
2O' Rum 
2 gallons Rum 
I C flour 

To a new Vest 
To a Bull Calf 

To a Servant Boy 

To a Horse 

To 4 Barrells Cyder 

To 10 Bushells Turnips 

To 8 Bus: Winter Apples 


5 • • 

I . . 

II . . 
15 . 

3 ■ ■ 


16. . 
10 . 
16. . 

12 . . 

6. . 

2 . . 

8. . 
12 . . 

15 • 

12 . . 

10 . . 
10 . . 


6 
6 




144- . 

144. . 
2 . . 

2 . . 

1 . . 

2 . . 

1 . . 

2 . . 

I . . 


12 . . 

12 . . 

10 . . 

5 • ■ 
15 • • 
15 . . 
17 . . 

7 • • 
10 . . 
15 

5 • • 
10 . . 
14 . . 
10 . . 


II 


I75I 
June 
Aug' 


page 80 

Am' bro' forward 
To Cash 
To Malt 

To a pair Steel yards 
To 5 Bushells Rye 
To Cash to James Dilworth for him 
To Cash to Chichester 

To Cash to Nath' Evenson for Carting Wheat 
To Cash to Hannah Lindly 

Rum and Mellasses at Harvest and Hay 
To Cash to a workman for him 
To a Bake Iron and Crow Barr 
paid Rob' Walker for him 
Total am' of the Ace' 

against Philip Taylor £ 


II 

I 

9 
6 




162. . 


7 • • 


— 




3 













45 



page 8 1 

A List of Bonds, Bills and Promissory Notes which Dan/1. Calvert 
hath in hia hands of the Estate of Jn/o Taylor delivered unto 
Edw/d. Brinton and Jn/o. Hannum the 29/th of March 1756. — 



One BondW/m.Empson to Jn/o. Taylor dated 

One Bond Tho/s. Ogle Jun/r. 

One Judg/t Bond Joseph Sellars 

One Bond W/m. Keepers 

One Bond James Lindley 

One Bond Richard Frew 

One Jud/t. Bond John Carter 

One Bond W/m. Darlington 

One Bond David Richards 

One Bond Tho/s. Calvert 

One Bond James Few 

One Bond James Broom 

One Bond Jacob Hollingsworth and Jn/o. 

Ruston 
One Bond Tho/s. Clayton to Jacob Roman 
One Bill Owen Owens 
One Note W/m. Keepers to Zebulon Oldham 

assign'd to Jn/o. Taylor dated 

page 82 

Note W/m, Bennitt dated 
Note Rich/d Few 
Note Jn/o. Baker 
Note James Underwood 
Note Rob/t. Jackson, Jacob John 
Note Josiah Lewis 
Note Rob/t. Mercer 
1 David Derrick 

Rob/t. Lyon Note 

Charles Crossly Note 

W/m. Harriss Note 
Note Edw/d. Pilkinton 
Note W/m. Holliday 

d/o Ja/s. House List day April 

d/o Isaac Strode 
Bill Edward Brogden 

46 



27/th. feb/y. 1747/8 
19/th Sep/r. 1754 
i5Sep/r. 1755 
lo/th. Aug/t. 1754 
iS/th. April 1749 
14/th feb/y. 1755 
28/th. May 1745/ 
22 March 1749/50 
26/th. April 1755 
2/nd. Aug/t. 1753 
14/th. feb/y. 1754 
17 Jan/y. 1745/6 

20 Jan/y. 1756 
18/th. may 1744 
17/th.Jan/y. 1749/50 

24/th. april 1752 



2/nd. Jan/y. 1749/5° 
15/th Octo 1755 
28 June 1755 
14 Decem 1749 
24/th. March 1755 
26/th. Nov/r. 1743 
26/th. Nov/r. 1753 
8/th. June 1752 
6/th. Nov/r. 1752 
13/th. April 1748 
2/nd. June 1750 
8/th. June 1751 
29/th. Nov/r. 1742 

1755 
31/th. May 1746 
29/th May 1746 



Note Jn/o. Vaughan 
Note Jn/o. Duglas 
Note Rich/d Few 
Note James Millison 
Note Nehemiah Baker 

Sign'd by 



14/th. April 1753 
24/th. May 1740 
12/th. fcb/y. 1756 
12/th. fcb/y. 1756 
31 Jan/y. 1756 



Edw/d. Brinton 
Jn/o Hannum 



Nutmegs 16/ p lb 
Cinnamon 17/ p. lb 



(on last fly leaf reversed) 



The lo/th Day of March at John Hills at 

lO/o.Clock audit of Court (nt^>=t '" 'ast page reversed) 



(Second page from the end reversed) 



D' Hart J. Philips 


. . 


3 • • 
I . . 

1 . . 

2 . . 

7 • ■ 




To Cash p'' for Pictures 
To D" p'' for Glass 
To D" p" fo paint G: L 
To D° p" for Glass 


6 
6 



The following promissory note is to Robert the second son of John 
Frazer. 

I Promise to pay or Cause to be paid to Robert Frazer or Order the 
Just and full Sum of Five pounds lawfull money of Pennsylvania at Six 
months after date for Value Received as Witness my hand this 2 day 
of February 1755 

Eaneas m'Carthy 
Endorsed Pay the within to my father 

Robert Frazer* 



*XVI-2 



47 



Letter to John Frazer from his Father-in-law Robert Smith 

deary June the 1755 

D/r John 

I receiued yours of the 15th of Dec/r last the other of 17th 
of the sam I did write by Phelimy Coulan who went to your Country 
two years agoe he had all I could Inform you of the memorand/m I 
had from Captn Mallholoun about his Lands in your Contry which 
was in his Deed of settlement that Sir Willm Penn or his Son sould 
their Lands to one Starkey a Quaker who aferwards died and by his 
Last will Bequeathed the sd Lands to his full Brother and sd Brother 
who cam to Dublin and made over the sam by settlement to Capt. 
Mallholoun at mariag to Starkies neess and their heirs for dow/r I 
maid further Inquiry that there was two men from Drohaday went 
ouer to manage them Lands by a power from sd Capt : more then 30 
years ago, one Parks and one Gooll : but if they did dispose thereof 
they aplyd the profits to theier own use and neuer returned: nor any 
acount of them I did speak to the Capts oldest son and he wood not 
giue any Consent to dispose of said Lands untill he goes to see them 
first Sd Pheliny Conlan deceiued me for as I hear he wrot hom to a 
Get : of his acquaintance about the sd Lands but no return to me ther- 
for finds by your lettr you did not receiue any from him I wrot from 
Dublin and Matty and Pearsifor with Collom did Joyn therein and 
belieue you did not receiue that now this bearer is Grandson to 
William Wattson whos: nam is James Smith his father wnt ouer to 
your Island and was a Tealor to tread Increased in his business and 
died in Pennelvena and left som fortun of Considerable Valew to his 
son had seuerall time wrott for his wife etc: to com to him but she 
being in our Lord Bleandys seurice was prewlad on to stay expecting 
he wood com back to Irland now as the bearr is a frend if it Lies in 
your way to assist him to get Justice. Said Phelimy Conlan when he 
went to Pennelvena pretended he was the nearest of kin to the de- 
sesed and clamed all he died posessed of I heare but francis Brodly our 
wood ranger declared he knew the Deseased had his wife and two sons 
all aliue and sad disapointed Mr Conely this bearers Grandfather 
Willm Watson is Brother to John Wattson of Dery heath my ouldest 
sisters husban, this bearers Legesys is in the hands of Willm Arm- 
strongs hands our Jon armstrongs Brother in law near Post town a JJ-ea way 
from you and y^' your assistance may be very bg of great seruice 
to him his name is James Smith sd Willm armstrong Hue near near 
New Castle abut 10 mills from it I am tould I thank God all 
heare is well only I and my wife are near worn Crasy I was in 
Dublin this last Tearm and has all business prepeared for a tryall 
against the next Tearm and has no dout to get a Decree for John Arm- 

48 



strongs 3/d part of the Lands of Clunnickney and Cawen I was: lo: 
days in Dublin and seen Matty Just com from the Bath in ould Eng- 
land very well and Marget and famely and Couzn Coote and his famely 
and as Thomas Smith had remoued his ould Cruked Cause about his 
Brothers will from Ardmagh to the Prog Prorogitune Court I spok to 
John Greasons Proctr and he is to manag for John there although sd 
will was Condmned as a false unlawfuU firadelent will yet Thos Smith 
is not ashamed to pay Costs and remoue it to Dublin: I have got 
about i2/th Cost and he has Lost as much Disputing and am very sure 
he will be easey in a short tim for both John and me are on good 
ground and well aduised wee will both defatt him which is a great 
trouble to his Unkle Allixandr and all his famely Thos Smith has not 
Left John armstrong the value of one peny eithe(r) in Cattle Corn or 
land only the house bearly : but I hop I will recouer lost profits and all 
wasts agnst him as I am aduised 

I hop you and your famely are in good health pray let us know how 
our frend Mr scott is and if he Continus their his father and mother 
and Brothr are well but Waltr Yong of Knockban is Dead about a 
year agoe. 

May the Almigety God grant you all peace of Consuence Increass 
of Grace and Joy and rejoysing in full hope and asurance through faith 
in Jeasus Crist of eternell Life from your father: jy. years ould the 5th 
day of 7/br 1755 next ould still.* 

Robert Smith 
these in both peaprs I haue wrot without Spectils and tells you my wife 
and all frends of my famely Joyns in their Complymts to you you 
please to mention in your next if so next your wife if liueing 
John armstrong earnestly desirs to know if his Sistr and her husban 
James armstrong be yet liueing if if you can willm armstrong that has 
the bearers mony is a Justice of peace near new Castle and if posible I 
beg you may shew him all the frendshipe in your pouer for he is a 
frend and a yong man and your aduice and asistance is only all he 
wants 



Short note to John Frazer from his wife on her arrival at some 
point on the Delaware, probably Chester, by sail boat. 

June loth 1755 
My D/r. 

I got Safe here last night abt 8 o. Clock, have been very well 
Since, and have a good appettite, and have heav'd none, I hope to hear 
that you are all well give my Loue to all fr/ds. 

I am y/r. louing wife Mary frazer 

*01d Style. 

49 



Note about the same time from John's eldest son 

D/r. Father 

I shall send down p first oppertunity money for the Barrel! of 
Sug/r. if you please to send it p first Conviniency, you must not be too 
urgent for my Mothers going Home for I believe I shall go to Chester 
on Tuesday next Mother gives her love to bob sally and Molly like- 
wise mine 

I am y/rs. Pers/r. Frazer 

John Cooper is very ill, they dont expect h'ell li — (torn) 
To Mr. John Frazer to the Care of Mr. Jno Curry on Society Hill 
Philad/a 



Deed of John Frazer and wife conveying to Wm Crookshanks their 
interest in the lands owned by Andrew Smith deceased, Mrs. Frazer's 
brother 



This Indenture made the seventh Day of Decem/r in the Yeare of 
oure Lord one Thousand seven Hundred and fifty seven and the thirty 
fourth first Yeare of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the 
second by the grace of God King of Great Brittan france and Ireland 
and etca. Between John Frazer of the City of Philadelphia in the 
Province of Penalvanea shop keeper and Mary His wife (She being one 
of the sisters of Andrew Smith late of Clenekney in the Parish of 
Donagh in County of Monaghan in the Kingdon of Ireland Yeoman 
deceased Intestate without Issue) of the One parte and W/m. Crook- 
shank of Anagola in the said Parish of Donagh Linnen weaver Of the 
other Part Witnesseth that the s/d John Freazer and Mary his wife for 
and in Consider/n of the sum of five Pounds Stirg monney of Great 
Britt/n; unto them in Hand p/dwill and truly p/d, by the sd/ W/m 
Crookshank at and before the sealing and Delivry hereof the receipt 
wherof the s/d John Freazer and Mary His wife do hearby Acknow- 
ledge and therof Do Aquit and for ever Discharg the s/d, W/m. Crook- 
shank his Hires Exr/'s Adm/ers and Assignes and by these Presents 
have given granted bargand sold relaced and Confirmed and by these 
Presents the s/d John Freazer and Mary his wife do give grant bargan 
sell and release and Confirm unto the said W/m Crookshank and to his 
Hires and Assignes for Ever all and Every the Part and Parts purport 
and perports share and Divedend whatsoever of them the said John 



Freazer and Mary his wife of in and to all and Singuler the Lands 
Farems Tenements Rents and Heredctamt/s. whereoft the said And/w 
Smith died seized or posse/d. or Intittled unto situate lying and bing 
in Clenekney and Caven in the s/d County of Monaghan or in anney 
oth/r. Part or Parts pleace orPleaces in the s/d County and Also all the 
Estates Right Tittle Interest use Possession property Clame and De- 
mand whatsoever of the said John Freazer and JMarey his wife of in and 
to all and Singuler the Lands Farems and Tennmts Rents and 
Hereditaments in the s/d County of Monaghan whereof the s/d And/w. 
Smith died seized Poss/d Intittled unto or to which he Had Anney 
Right Tittle Intrist Property Cleem or Demand to have and to hold 
the Afors/d parts or Parts perport and perports share and Dividend 
Heredatments and Premisses hearby granted or mention/d and in- 
tended to be hearby granted with all and singular the Right Members 
Heredit/mts and Apurtenances whatsoever there unto Respectivly 
belonging unto the said W/m Crookshank his Hires and Assigns to the 
onley use and benefit behalf of Him the said W/m. Crookshank his hi 
W/m. Crookshank His Hares and Assignes for ever and the said John 
Freazer Doth hereb(y) Covenant for him and his Hares and for the 
said Mary his wife and for the Hires of the said Mary to and with the 
said W/m Crookshank his Hires and Assignes that he the said John 
Freazer and Mary his wife and there Hires respectively and every of 
them the afores/d Part and Parts Purport and Purtorts share and 
Dividend and all and Singular Oth/r. the Heredita/mts and Premes/s, 
hereby Granted or Mention/d to be Granted with the Apurtenances 
unto the said W/m Crookshank his Hires and Assignes Against him the 
said John Freazer and Marey his wife and his and her Hares respec- 
tivly and Against all Person and Persons whatsoever lawfully Gleam- 
ing to CI or to CI or to Gleam by from or under him her them 

Or anney of them shall and will warrant and for Ever defend by these 
Presents in Witness whereof the said Parties to these presents 
ha — (torn) set their Hands and seales hereunto Dated th s Day the Day 
and yeare first abo — (torn) Written. 

John Freazer 
Sealed and deliv/d in the Presence of us 

Mary Freazer 

Rich/d Scott 
Thomas Dunbar 

The occupation of John Frazer is given as "shopkeeper" in this 
document, in others as "Marchand." In the early days of the Colony 
the active citizens pursued many callings simultaneously, as is the case 
to-day in our frontier towns. But in this respect the party of the first 
part had no advantage over the party of the second part, his brother-in- 
law in Ireland who was both "Linnen weaver" and Judge 

51 



The following letter is from Robert Frazer (XVI-2) the second son 
of John Frazer (XV-5) whose presence in Dublin on March 8 of the 
next year is mentioned in the succeeding letter. 

From family traditions it is learned that Robert Frazer was 
an active partner with his Father and elder brother Persifor in their 
commercial transactions, and that he was master of the brigantine 
Ranger in which he was lost at sea January or February 1763. The 
latter papers consist of a translation of the deposition of the Dutch 
Constable at Port Orange St Eustatius; the depositions of John Harper 
and Matthias Lukens, Philadelphia Merchants who had for some time 
resided on the island of St Eustatius; and two policies of Insurance on 
the vessel (one canceled in favor of the other). It would appear that 
these papers were prepared for the purpose of recovering the insurance 
of the "Ranger", and proving the death of Robert Frazer. It is the 
belief of the present writer that the vessel was never heard of after leav- 
ing Port Orange. She probably parted company with her consorts 
and foundered at Sea. 

Kingston July 21/st 1758 
D/r. Parents 

I Wrote to you by Cap/t. M'Pherson Who Sail'd a few Days 
after our Arrival I have not heard a word from you Since I have 
been here Tho there Is a Ship and Brig Arrived fromPhilad/a. who 
Sail'd 2 Weeks after us I have nothing new to tell you but that I 
am in as good health as ever I was in my life thanks Be to the 
Almighty for it Tho there has not been all hands well Since we left 
Philad/a. I have Seen John Poultney (and has been several times 
on board with him on nights afterwork) who I beleive is in a very 
Good way he is now mate of a letter Marque Brig of 12 Guns 
bound to the Spanish Main and is to Sail in 2 or 3 Days he is well 
in health I have Got a letter from him to Jeny he Desires you 
would Do what lay in your Power as to the Prize money I Beleive 
we shal Sail in about 2 Weeks full of Rum Sugar and molasses 
My venture turns out but Poorly Soap is 55 S pr C Remember 
me to Peirce Sally and Nancy and to all Inquiring Freinds I am 
D/r Parents 

you Ever Ever Afectionate Son 

Robert Frazer 
Endorsed from Robert Frazer 

Kingston July 21/st 1758 
52 



The following is the second letter of Judge Crookshanks to his 
brother-in-law John Frazer since the execution of the deed in the 
former's favor fifteen months before. The first letter was not pre- 
served. 



Annagola March the igth, 1759 
Dr. S,r, 

I recuied yours this Day Deated the 9th of January 1758 which 
always giues me pleasur, to hear of you and your, fami,ly, well- 
feare I also, Reed on from you Son Robert at the Same time how is now 
Landed safe in Dublin in or about the eight of march, I have this Day 
wrote to him, and tould him I had at that preasant an oppor- 
tunity of writing to his father Dr Brother I now oune my Self 
under many obligations to you, but more in pertickallar for your 
care in sending me the Deed of glennicken and Cauen, I also, 
Return mrs, frazer thanks for hir willingness to Serue me I wish it 
euery may be in my power to serue hir, or hir Intrust, I am 
now in heast for feare of mising this unexpected opportunity, but 
shall endeauour to answer your Letter in full on the return of 
your son Robert I Reed the Deed and your Letter from Mr 
John Scoot which Mr Richard Scoot Deliuered to him safe, as to the 
goodness of the Deed I can not yet tell you, for I haue not as yet maid 
any proceedings in that afifeare, and the only reason is, there is still yet 
Since the Death of my father in Law a greate misunderstanding between 
my mother in law and me and John Greason, and (the)refore untill we 
agree amongst Our Selves, it is vain to Commence a Sute (ag)ainst 
Smith, I shall in my next Let you Know part of thire proceedings 
(ag)ainst me, which will surprize you, I shall at this time only tell you, 
in the modest way of speaking that my mother in law and John 
Greason, outwitted me of 50 lb Str. which was my wifes fortune, for 
which reason my mother in law and Salle is not yet on Speaking terms, 
I now Hue on the Lands of annagola and has all my fathers Land which 
he resined to me, and is yet Liueing and my mother, my father is now 
96: years ould they haue a house Just beside mine, I have now foure 
Greason, outwited me of 50 lb Str. which was my wifes fortune, for 
cease of my father in law the Lands of Cleare was sould sum part of 
them which I bought, the other part I had by a contract of mariage, 
but there was a deed of morgas sect up against me by John Greason 
made to him by my father inlaw for 52 lb Str which I was than 
Obliged to pay for my oune right, I now enjoy all the Lands of Cleare, 
you see at a very high Expence, and notwithstanding that my mother 
in law was my greate Enimey I havel given hir Dureing hir owne Live 
Seven Eakers of the Land and the house at the Standing rent and I 

S3 



also giue liir one cow with seueral, other nessareys, this I did on Salle, 
account, Jane armstrong and tow Children is liueing with her mother in 
Cleare, 1 have a Mault Kill going in Cleare and now has John Arm- 
strong for my mault man, Jane Armstrong has three more children 
sum of thcin at treads, JoJin Morrison Lines in the same please and is 
Doing very well. As for John Greason and his wife thy are well and 
in a very good way they haue six Children, as for Alexander Smith him 
and his family is all well, as for Robert his Son he lines in the County 
of Doune and is Extreamly well marred, as for my Sister Matte she 
always Lines with me frriee, and is Extreamly well. She is a friend 
home I greatly Esteem and regard and is Doing very well her husband 
is yet Liuing. I am tould that John Greason and Alexander Smith 
are both, writing to you with this opportunity which I beliue is one 
Mr Mathes and one Mr Lebourn, tho, i am unacquainted with them, 
but I believe John Greason and them are acquainted, I was tould that 
Mr Mathes Bought some white Cloath from John Greason, I hop you 
will giue my Compliments to all Enquiring friends, and I and my 
family Joynes with our Kind Respeacts, to you and yours, which all at 
preasent from your, Sincear and most Affectioned Brother 

William Crookshanks 
P. S. 

I wrote to you before 
this since I Reed the Deed 

Mr John frazer 
Marchand in Philadelppi — (torn) 



The following letters were written by Robert Frazer during the 
voyage from which he never returned 



Nov. 1 6. 1762 

Cape henlopen Nov/r. i6/th: 1762 
D/r. Father 

We are got this farr without meeting With any thing material 
we have got a fine Northerly Wind and have had Extriordinary 
Luck hitherto and hope it will Continue We seem to be all 

very sociable and hope it will Continue our Vessel sails very fast 
I think faster than ever I have sailed yet M/r. Bartholomew Is 

54 



well and sends his Compliments to you all Give my love to my 

mother Peirce Sally Nancy and Jack and my Compliments to all 

Inquireing Friends I am D/r. Father 

Remember me to Fargu Your loving Son 

M.Ilvaine and tell him Robert Frazer 

the Polacio went to Sea 

6 Days ago 

The Sloop George Jenkins went in lost both her Anchors and 

Cables in the Bay and Intended to go to Bermudas to get others 

so we hope to be at our market before them. 

Addressed "Pq 

M/r. John Frazer 
On Society hill 

Philadelphia 



S. Eusthis Janur.y 5/th. 1763 
D/r. Pirce 

I have not Recivd a line from you Since I left you altho there 
was several Vessels Arr'vd at S. Kitts from Philad/a. 

The Bills of Exchange gives me a great Deal of Uneasiness 
bethe (?) I am afraid its being safe as to the Drawers we have Met 
with pretty good markets but I shall never chuse to come with 
Mr Bartholomew again for Reasons I shall tell you if ever I see 
you again we have bought a Brig here and have got in a load of 
salt and Intend for Carolina when ever we have a Certainty of a 
peace which we Expect every day my my Complimts to M/r. Mc- 
Mutrie and Family and all Inquiring friends I am D/r. Pierce your 
loving Brother 

Robert Frazer 
Addressed to M/r. Persifor Frazer 



Official certificate of the clearance of the "Ranger" Capt. Robert 
Frazer from St. Eustatius, Jan. 17. 1763: 

Translation O I the Subscriber Cornelius Lispier being 

the Sworn Constable of Fort Orange on the Island of St Eustatius 
do hereby declare to all persons whom it may concern to be true 
and ffact That the Brigan tync called Raingor Commanded by 
Captain Robber Frecher Sailed from this Port for South Carolina 

55 



agreable to his own Declaration on the Seventeenth Day of Jan. 
1763, having first paid the Customs and Duties at the aforesaid 
For Orange. 

St. Eustatius the first of October 1764. 

(Signed) Corn. Lispier 
(Seal) Constable. 

Translated from the Netherlandish original 
Philad/d. Octob/r. 30/th. 1764. 

Pr me L. Weiss 



City of Philadelphia Ss" 

Be it Remembered that on the Twelfth day of 
December in the year of Our Lord One thousand Seven hundred 
and Sixty four, Before me James Humphreys Esq/r. Notary and 
Tabellion Public of the Province of Pennsilvania, by lawful au- 
thority duly admitted and Sworn, dwelling in the City of Philadel- 
phia in the said Province; and One of His Majestys Justices of 
the Peace for the City and County of Philadelphia; personally 
appeared Lewis Weiss of the said City Gentleman, and being 
Sworn on the Holy Evangelists of almighty God did Depose, Tes- 
tify, Declare and Say That the above writing is a Just and true 
Translation of an Original Certificate in the Hollands Language 
written, by him this deponent Translated into the English Lan- 
guage, according to the best of his Skill Knowledge and ability, at 
the Request of Mess/rs. Benjamin Davis and Thomas Bartholo- 
mew of the said City Merchants 

L Weiss 

In Testimony whereof I the said Notary have hereunto Set 
my hand and affixed my Seal of Ofifice of Notary at Philadel- 
phia aforesaid the Day month and year above written 
Ja/s Humphreys 'Not/ius Puh/cus '''' 

1764 [Seal] 

City of Philad/a. Ss ' ' 

Be it Remembered That on the Twenty seventh 
(lay of February in the Year of Our Lord 1764, Before me James 
Humphreys Esq/r. Notary and Tabellion Public of the Province of 

56 



Pennsilvania, by lawful Authority duly admitted and Sworn, 
dwelling in the City of Philadelphia, in the said Province, and 
One of His Majesty's Justices, the Peace within the City and 
County of Philadelphia to keep, assigned ; personally appeared 
John Harper and Mathias Lukens, both of the said City of Phila- 
delphia Merchants, and being severally Sworn on the Holy Evan- 
gelists of Almighty God did respectively depose Testifie declare 
and say, that is to say. The said John Harper deposeth and saith. 
That he resided on the Island of S/t. Eustatius from the first day 
of January in the Year of Our Lord One thousand seven hundred 
and Sixty three, and untill about y/e Eighteenth day of the same 
month Jany. ;That he well knew and was personally acquainted with 
Robert Frazier and Austin Bartholomew ; who were both on the 
said Island, from the aforesaid first day of January and untill the 
Seventeenth or eighteenth day of the same month, the said 
Robert Frazier being master of a certain Brigantine Called the 
Ranger, and lying in the Harbour of S/t. Eustatius, and the s/d. 
Austin Bartholomew Supra Cargo on board the s/d. Brig/t. ; 
That this deponent was frequently (almost every day) in Company 
with the s/d. Robert Frazier and Austin Bartholomew, during 
the Time of their stay on the said Island and frequently heard 
the s/d. Robert Frazier and Austin Bartholomew say, they 
bought the s/d. Brigantine in S/t. Eustatius aforesaid and had 
loaded her with Salt and other merchandise, and were going in 
and with the sd. Brigantine from thence, to Charlestown in 
South Carolina ; that he this deponent Saw them prepare to sail 
in company with two armed Sloops, bound for Providence and 
that they did actually sail in and with the said Brigantine from 
S/t. Eustatius afs/d. on or about the Seventeenth or eigh- 
teenth day of January afs/d. bound to the aforesaid Port of 
Charles town ; and lastly that the s/d. Brigantine had eight or ten 
carraige Guns (four Pounders as this deponent thinks) mounted ; 
Also Several Small Arms and other Warlike Stores on board. 
And the s/d. Mathias Lukens deposeth and saith That on or about 
the afs/d. Seventeenth day of Januery, he the s/d. Mathias 
Lukens being then on the said Island of S/t. Eustatius Saw the 
s/d. Robert Frazier and Austin Bartholomew Sail in and with the 
s/d. Brigantine, from the s/d. Island; that the s/d. Frazier and 
Bartholomew (some little time before the s/d. Brigantine Sailed 
from S/t. Eustatia as afs/d.) told this deponent they had 
eighteen hundred Bushells of Salt and about Thirty or forty Cases 
of Geneva on board the s/d. Brig/t., and that they were bound for 
Charlestown in South Carolina; and that the s/d. Brigantine 
sailed in Company with two sloops one of which was of no 

57 



force, Pratt Master ; the other a Letter of Marque mount- 

ing fourteen Carraige Guns Joseph Thompson Commander and 
further that the s/d. Brig/t. was regularly cleared out as this 
deponent was informed. 

John Harper 

Matthias Lueken 

In Testimonium Veritatis 

Ja/s. Humphreys Not/ius Pub/cus 

1764 
Endorsed 

Depositions of John Harper and Matthias Lukens 
27/th Feb/y. 1764 



Policy of insurance on the vessel and cargo of the sloop "Ranger.'' 

Whereas, We, Bartholomew and Frazer 

as well in our own Name, as for and in the Name and Names of all 
and every other Person or Persons, to whom the same doth, may, 
or shall appertain, in part or in all, doth make Assurance, and 
causeth ourselves and them, and every of them to be insured (lost 
or not lost) at and from Philad/a. to S/t. Eustatia 
upon all kinds of lawful Goods and Merchandizes, Loaden, or to 
be loaden aboard the good Sloop called the Ranger whereof is 
Master for this present Voyage Outerbridge or whosoever else 
shall go for Master in the said Sloop or by whatever other Name 
or Names the same Sloop or the Master thereof, is, or shall be 
named or called. Beginning the Adventure upon the said lawful 
Goods and Merchandizes, from and immediately following the 
Loading thereof on board the said Sloop at Philadelphia afore- 
said, and so shall continue and endure, until the said Goods and 
Merchandizes shall be safely landed at S/t. Eustatia aforesaid. 
.\nd it shall and may be lawful for the said Sloop in her Voyage, to 
proceed and sail to, touch and stay at any Ports or Places, if 
thereunto obliged by Stress of Weather, or other unavoidable 

58 



Accident, without Prejudice to this Insurance. Touching the 
Adventures and Perils, which we the Assurers are contented to 
bear, and do take upon us in this Voyage; they are, of the Seas, 
Men of War, Fires, Enemies, Pirates, Rovers, Thieves, Jcttesons, Let- 
ters of Mart and Counter Mart, Stiprisals, Taking at Sea, Arrests, Re- 
straints, and Detainments of all Kings, Princes or People, of vjhat 
Nation, Condition, or Quality Soever, Barratry of the Master and Ma- 
riners, and all other Perils, Losses and Misfortunes, that have or 
shall come to the Hurt, Detriment, or Damage of the said Goods 
or Merchandizes, or any part thereof. And in case of any Losses 
or Misfortunes, it shall be lawful to and for the Assured, their 
Factors, Servants and Assigns, to sue, labour and travel for, in 
and about the Defence, Safeguard and Recovery of the said 
Goods or Merchandize, or any Part thereof, without Prejudice to 
this Insurance, to the Charges whereof we the Assurers will con- 
tribute, each one according to the Rate and Quanity of his Sum 
herein assured. And it is agreed by us the Assurers, that this 
Writing or Policy of Assurance, shall be of as much Force and 
Effect as the surest Writing or Policy of Assurance heretofore 
made in Lombard-Street, or elsewhere in LONDON. And so 
we the Assurers are contented and hereby promise and bind our- 
selves, each one for his own Part, our Heirs, Executors and Goods 
to the Assured, their Executors, Administrators and Assigns, for 
the true Performance of the Premises, confessing ourselves paid 
the Consideration due unto us for the Assurance, by the said As- 
sured, or their Assigns, at the Rate of Nine Pr Cent 
And in Case of Loss, the Assured is to abate Two Pounds per Cent, 
and such Loss to be paid in three Months after Proof thereof. 
And it is agreed that if any Dispute shall arise, relating to a Loss 
on this Policy, it shall be referred to two indifferent Persons, one 
to be Chosen by the Assured, the other by the Assurer or As- 
surers, who shall have full Power to adjust the same ; but in Case 
they cannot agree, then two such Persons shall chuse a Third, and 
any two of them agreeing, shall be Obligatory to both parties. In 
Witness whereof, we the Assurers have subscribed our Names 
and Sums assured in Philadelphia, the Twelfth Day of November 
One Thousand, Seven Hundred, and fifty two 

N. B. Salt, Wheat, Indian Corn, Peas, Malt, and Dried Fish 
stozv'd in Bulk, Tobacco in Casks, are ivarrantcd free from Aver- 
age, unless General or the Ship be stranded. All other Goods free 
from Average, tinder Five Pounds per Cent, unless General, 
or the be stranded. The Assured shall allow the OMce- 

keeper or Broker, Half per Cent for his Trouble in collecting any 
Loss that may happen on this Policy, paying the same in due Time, 
and registering it in the Office-Books. 

59 



L 200 Two hundred pounds Baynton and Wharton 
loo-one Hundred pounds 
100 One Hundred pounds 
£ 100 One hundred pounds Daniel Clark 
£ 200 Two hun/d. pounds James and Drinker 
£ 100 One hundred Pounds Hen Harrison 
£ 100 One hundred pounds Conyngham and Nesbitt 
£ 100 One hundred pounds Sam/1. Mifflin 
£ 100 One Hundred pounds Charles Jones 
£ 100 One hundred Pounds Theo. and Rich/d Bache 
(In writing on the back) 
City of Philadelphia Ss ' ' 

The Thirtieth day of December in the 
Year of Our Lord One thousand seven hundred and sixty three 
Before me James Humphreys Esq/r. Notary and Tabellion Public 
of the Province of Pennsylvania, by lawful authority duly admitted 
and Sworn dwelling in the City of Philadelphia in the Province, 
and One of his Majesty's Justices the peace within the City and 
County of Philadelphia to keepAssignes; personally appearedM/r. 
Walter Shee of the said City Insurance broker, and made Oath on 
the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God, That the within Instru- 
ment in Writing or Policy of Insurance is a just true and Original 
Policy of Assurance, by him this deponent and Sons his Co-part- 
ners procured to be underwrote in their Insurance Office in the 
said City; for and upon account of the therein named Mess/rs. 
Bartholomew and Frazier 

Walter Shee 
In Testimony whereof I the said Notary, have hereunto 
set my Hand and affixed my Seal of Office at Philadel- 
phia aforesaid the day and Year above written 
Ja/s Humphreys Not/ius Pub/cus 

1763 
Endorsed Policy 

Sloop Ranger Outerbridge 
Mr. from Philad/a. 
to S/t. Eustatia 

Bartholomew And Frazer 

£ 1200 Goods @ 9 pr C/t. £ 108 . . 

Policy 5 . . 



Reg/d. in Book G. fol 21 
Walt/r Shee and Sons 

60 



£ 108 . 



Policy of insurance on the furniture and equipment of a brig un- 
named, but probably the "Ranger" 

WHereas We Benj/a: Davis, Austin and Tho/s Bartholomew 
and Rob/t Fraizer as well in our Name, as for and in the Name 
and Names of all and every other Person or Persons, to whom the 
same doth, may or shall appertain, in Part or in all doth make As- 
surance and causeth ourselves and them and every of them to be 
Insured, lost or not lost, at and from St Eustatia To Charles Town 
South Carolina. 

upon the Body, Tackle, Apparel and other Furniture of the good 

Brig called the of the Burden of 

Tons or thereabouts, whereof is Master under GOD, for the pres- 
ent Voyage Robert Fraizer or whosoever else shall go for Master 
in the said Ship, or by whatsoever other Name or Names said 
Ship, or the Master thereof, is, or shall be named or called, be- 
ginning the Adventure upon the said Ship, Tackle, Apparel, etc. at 
and from St Eustatia aforesaid, and so shall continue and endure 
until the said Ship shall be safely arrived at South Carolina 
aforesaid, and untill she be moored Twenty and Four Hours in 
good Safety. And it shall and may be lawful for the said Ship in 
her Voyage to proceed and sail to, touch and stay at any Ports or 
Places, if thereunto obliged by Stress of Weather, or other un- 
avoidable Accident, without Prejudice to this Insurance. The 
said Ship, Tackle, etc. for so much as it concerns the Assured by 
Agreement made between the Assured and the Assurers in this 
Policy, are and shall be valued at Eight Hundred Pounds 
without any further Account to be given by the Assured to the 
Assurers, or any of them for the same. Touching the Adventures 
and Perils, which we the Assurers are contented to bear, and do 
take upon us in this Voyage, they are, of the Seas, Men of War, 
Fires, Enemies, Pirates, Rovers, Theives, Jettisons, Letters of Mart, 
and Counter Mart, Stirprisals, Taking at Sea, Arrests, Restraints and 
Detainments, of all Kings, Princes, or People of what Nation, Condi- 
tion or Quality soever. Barratry of the Master and Mariners, and all 
other Perils, Losses and Misfortunes, that have or shall come to 
the Hurt, Detriment or Damage of the said Ship or Part thereof. 
And in case of any Loss or Misfortunes, it shall be lawful to and 
for the Assured their Factors, Servants, and Assigns, to sue, 
labour and travel for, in and about the Defence, Safeguard and Re- 
covery of the said Ship or any Part thereof without Prejudice to 
this Insurance, to the Charges whereof we the Assurers will con- 
tribute each one, according to the Rate and Quantity of his 

6i 



Sum herein Insured. And it is agreed by us the Assurers, that 
this Writing or Policy of Insurance, shall be of as much Force and 
Efifect, as the surest Writing or Policy of Assurance heretofore 
made in Lombard-Street, or elsewhere in LONDON. And, 
so we the Assurers are contented, and do hereby promise and 
bind ourselves each one for his own Part, our Heirs, Executors, 
and Goods, to the Assured, their Executors, Administrators and 
Assigns, for the true Performance of the Premisses, confessing our- 
selves paid the Consideration due unto us for the Assurance, by 
the said Assured or their Assigns at and after the Rate of Nine 
Pounds per Cent, and in Case of Loss, the Assured to abate Tzvo 
per Cent. 

In Witness ivliereof WE the Assurers have subscribed our 
Names and Sums Assured in Philadelphia the Twenty First Day of 
February One Thousand Seven Plundred and Sixty Three 

Memorandum. It is agreed by and between the Assured and As- 
surers, that no Loss shall be paid on any Average under Five 
Pounds per Cent unless the said Average be General. And in 
Case of Loss the Assured shall allozp the Office Keeper or 
Broker One half per Cent, for his Trouble in collecting and 
paying the same in due Time, and registring it in his office. 
It is further agreed tliat if any Dispute shall arise, relating to a 
Loss on this POLICY, it shall be referred to tzvo indifferent 
Persons, one to be chosen by the Assured, the other by the As- 
surer or Assurers, zvho shall have fidl Power to adjust the 
same; but in Case they cannot agree then such tzvo Persons shall 
chuse a Third and any two of them agreeing, shall be Obligatory 
to both Parties. 

It is agreed also between Assured and Assurers, That in Case of 
Loss the Money shall be paid in three Months after Proof made 
of the same. 

(In writing) 

N.B. Whereas Austin Bartholomew wrote from St Eustatis to 
Tho/s Bartholomew in South Carolina to make the above Insur- 
ance It is hereby agreed that if the above Insurance is made in 
Carolina, then this shall be void except one Half pr C/t. 
(In writing on the back) 

City of Philadelphia SS. 

The Thirtieth day of December in the year of Our 
Lord One thousand seven huidred and Si.xty three Before James 
Humphreys Esq. Notary and Tabellion public of the Province of 

62 



Pennsilvania by lawful Authority duly admitted and sworn dwell- 
ing in the City of Philadelphia in the said Province and One of 
His Majesty's Justices, the Peace within the City and County of 
Philadelphia to keep assigned Personally appeared William Brad- 
ford of the said City Insurance Broker and made Oath on the 
Holy Evangelists of Almighty God That the within Instrument in 
writing or Pollicy of Insurance is a Just true and Original Pollicy 
of assurance, by him this deponent and his Copartner John Kidd 
Procured to be Underwrote in their Insurance office in the said 
City; for and upon account of Mess/r. Benjamin Davis Austin 
and Thomas Bartholomew and Robert Fraizer therein named : 
That after the said Insurance was so made as aforesaid ; the Pre- 
miums paid thereon (one half pr Cent excepted) were Returned to 
the said Benjamin Davis Austin and Thomas Bartholomew and 
Robert Fraizer and the said Pollicy Cancelled Proof being made 
of the said Insurance being Effected in South Carolina and that 
there was no other Insurance made in the said office by the a. Ben- 
jamin Davis Austin and Thomas Bartholomew and Robert Fraizer 
or Either of them upon the Body Tackle apparell and other Fur- 
niture of the within mentioned Brigantine on the said Voyage ex- 
cept the Insurance made as aforesaid and further saith not 

W/m. Bradford 

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and 
affixed my Seal of office of Notary at Philadelphia aforesaid 
the day and year above written 
Ja/s Humphreys Not/ius Pub/cus 

1768 

Endorsed Policy Brig/t. Robert Frazer w. from S/t Eaustatia to 
South Carolinea Benj/a Davis and Co. 

Vessel £800. 9 Pr C 72. 
Policy 5 

£ 72-5 

regst/d. In Book B fo 61 
for Thidd J. Bradford W/m Smith 
April 30/th 1763 policy Canceled and prem. returned the Insur- 
ance being made in S/o Carolinea on £ 800. 8 1/2 Pr C £68. 
office fees on £800. 2/6 Pr C 20/ 

regst/d In Book B fo 172 
for Thidds Bradford 
W/m Smith 

63 



The following papers belonging to John Frazer (b. 1709) have been 
preserved 

A small book with a parchment cover much worn and torn, 6" x 4". 
It has a pen-printed title with crudely painted yellow lined upper and 
lower border. The right hand edge of this title and all the following 
leaves are torn so that the 3d and 4th figures of the century number are 
obliterated. It reads 
M 
loHn Fraz — ' (torn) 
This Vocal Musick Boo — (torn) 
Made Decm/e the i8th 172 — (torn) 

It probably was made in Ireland in the seventeen twenties. It has 
28 leaves. 

The first is a sort of dedicatory rhymei 
The next page 3, colored "The Gamut or scale of Music,, 
5, "Some plain Songs", 6, and 7, Directions ; 9, rhymes 
II, French tune; 13, London tune; 15, York tune; 17, Dundee tune; 
19, Elgine tune; 21, Dublin tune; 23, Martyrs tune; 25, Abby's tune; 
27, St. David's tune; 29, Newtown tune; 31, St. Mary's tune; 33, A 
propr tune; 35, Rochell tune; 37, Divine Glorian — (torn); 39, The tip- 
pling Philos — (torn). This latter runs over 10 pp (5 leaves). The last 
in the book is 'Quaker's song' also ten pages (5 leaves) long, but very 
badly torn. 



An account book and numerous papers connected with the settle- 
ment as sole surviving Executor of the estate of Richard Bayly dec'd. 



The following is on a loose sheet of paper : author unknowm. 

My plough Sir if you please to know 
was made to Stand, not for to go 
Though Horses from it Chuse to Run 
Yet fools they Seldom Do It Shun 
Lett the first Run I Little Matter 
I make More proffit by the latter 
My Plough to Horse's I'le near Bind 
While fools and Ases are so Kind 
For those with pleasure lay their Scheam 

64 



For those Delight and Lay their Scheam 

To yoak themselves Into my team 

And I as Much them for to Drive 

Since by Such policy I thrive 

But when away they Seem to Start 

I have a Whip to Make them Smart 

Which Sometimes pips as Sharp as frost 

And oft Skin and Blood and Snot does Cost 

And then they Set their wit's to work 

To Break my Plough all at a Jerk 

And for a while they '1 Seem So Shy 

As if my plough they'd N'ear Come Nigh 

Yet Notwithstanding this be true 

And they Loose horse and Sadie too 

To Seek the Horses my plough '1 not Budge 

But Let the fool a foot to Trudge 

My plough's so Strong and grown so high 

And their witt so weak I it Defie 

for I've a Balsam of Such Sort 

they'l Soon Again to me resort 

T'.will Heal old Soers and New ones Make 

With Thank you Will, they do it take 

The Gel . . on Plough that Never Went 

have Match'd the fool that gaind Consent 

And Lay'd the Scheam by which Shee Stodd 

from whence Shee thought Shee Ever Shoud 

His Horse is Run and Left the plough 

And he por fool, a foot I Vow — 

A frosty Night Twas bad for Shoes 

and ten times worse for his poor toes 

first went the Shoes, and then the Skin 

The flesh left Bare that was within — 

What Chance have that with Ice and frost 

But Blood and Snot to pay the Cost 

But Notwithstanding that is true 

He's Safe at home and that Shall Doe 

He'l Make the plough go find the Horse 

And then Declare he's Clear of Loss 

for let the Skin and Blood thats gon 

Secure the Other from such wrong 

And then it Senters all for good 

And Makes an End Just where it stood 

the Plough may Stand and horses Run 

I thank you well for what you've Done 

65 



Unexecuted draft of a Will made by John Frazer the year before 
his death, and letter of administration of Benjamin Chew to Persifor 
Frazer as administrator of estate of John Frazer. 

In the Name of God Amen I John Frazer of the City of (torn) 
■ being Weak in Body, but Sound and Disposeing Mind and Mem- 
ory Do Make and Publish this my Last Will and Testa- 
ment, in manner and form following; That is to say First 
it is my Will and I do hereby Direct, that all my Debts 
and Funeral Charges, be first paid by my Executors here- 
inafter named; I give and Devise to my beloved Son, Per- 
sifor Frazer the sum of five Pounds lawful Money of Pennsylvania 
and nomore, I give and Devise to my beloved Son! Robert Frazer 
the sum of one hundred Pounds of like Money, but if the said 
Robert is now Dead or shall hereafter Die before me, then I give 
and Devise the said sum of one hundred Pounds to be equally 
Divided between my beloved Wife Mary Frazer and my Daugh- 
ters Sarah Frazer and Ann Frazer share and share alike, I give and 
Devise to my said Wife Mary one equal third part, of all the rest 
residue and Remainder of all my Estate both Real and Personal of 
what kind or Nature soever to hold to her Heirs and Assigns for 
ever, I give and Devise to my said Wife the use and benefit of the 
other two third Parts of the rest residue and remainder of my 
said Estate, for the Maintainance and Education of my said two 
Daughters Sarah and Ann until they arrive at their respective 
Ages of twenty one, And I give and Devise to my said two 
Daughters the said two third parts of the rest residue and remain- 
der of my Estate both Real and Personal to be equally Divided be- 
tween them share and share alike to hold to them their Heirs and 
assigns forever, subject nevertheless to the use aforesaid, and to 
be paid to them at their respective ages of twenty one Years, but 
if it shall hereafter happen that either of my said Daughters shall 
be Married before they are at their Ages of twenty one Years, 
with the Consent of my said Wife, if she be then liveing, or of 
their Guardian herein after Named if she be Dead ; then my Will is 
that my said Daughter so married shall receive the share of my 
said Estate which is hereby Devised to her Immediately after her 
said Marriage, and in Case my said Wife shall happen to Die 
before my said Daughters be twenty one Years of age then I do 
hereby appoint my Friend M/r Abraham Usher of the said 
City Merchant to be the Guardian of my said Daughters Dureing 
their Minority And I do hereby Appoint my said Wife Mary 
Frazer and my said Son Persifor Frazer to be Executors of this my 
Last Will and Testament hereby revoking all former Wills by me 

66 



heretofore made In Witness whereof I have herewith set my Hand 
and Seal this Day of (torn) one thousand 

seven hundred and sixty four. 
Signed Sealed and PubHshed 
by the said Testator as his Last 
Will and Testament in presence of 
us who have hereunto Subscribed 
our names at his request and in 
his presence the Word (her) being 
first interiined in the fourteenth Line. 
Endorsed Project of Will of 
John Frazer 

1764 : . 



(in writing) Benjamin Chew 

WILLIAM PLUMSTED, Esq ; Register 
General for the Probate of Wills, and 

Granting Letters of Administration, in and 

for the Province of Pcnnsylvattia 
To (in writing) Persifor Frazer Eldest Son of John Frazer late 
of the City of Philadelphia Merchant deceased, 

Greeting. 
Whereas the said John Frazer lately died intestate (as 'tis said) 
having whilst h e lived, and at the Time of h is Death, divers 
Goods, Chatties, Rights, and Credits within the said Province, by 
Means whereof the full Disposition and power of Granting the 
Administration of all and singular the Goods, Chatties, Rights and 
Credits which were of the said John Frazer deceased within the 
said Province, and also the auditing the Accompts, Calculations 
and Reckonings of the said Administration, and a final dismission 
from the same; to me is manifestly known to belong. I desiring 
that the Goods, Chatties, Rights and Credits, of the said Decedent 
may be well and truly administered, do hereby grant unto you the 
said 

Persifor Frazer 
(in whose Fidelity in this behalf I very much confide) full Power 
by the Tenor of these Presents, to Administer the Goods, Chatties, 
Rights and Credits, which were of the said Decedent within the 
said Province, and also to ask. collect, recover and receive, the 
Credits whatsoever of the said Decedent, which at the Time of h is 
Death were owing, or to him did any way belong, and to pay 
the Debts in which the said Decedent stood obliged, so for forth 

67 



as the said Goods, Chatties, Rights and Credits will extend ac- 
cording to their rate and order of Law, especially of well and truly 
administering the Goods, Chatties, Rights and Credits of the said 
Decedent, and making a true and perfect inventory thereof, and 
exhibiting the same into the Register Generals Office at Pliiladel- 
phia, at or before the Tenth day of October next and rendering a 
true and just Accompt, Calculation and Reckoning of the said Ad- 
ministration, at or before the Eleventh Day of September Anno 
1766 And also I do by these Presents ordain, constitute, and 
depute you the said 

Persifor Frazer 

Administrator of all and singular the Goods Chatties, Rights and 
Credits within the Limits aforesaid, saving harmless and forever 
indemnifying me and all Officers against all other Persons by 
reason of your Administration aforesaid, and saving to all others 
their Rights. 

IN TESTIMONY whereof I have hereunto set my Hand, and 
Seal of my Office at Philadelphia, the Tenth Day of September in 
the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty five 

Benjamin Chew Reg/r. Gen/1. 

Endorsed Administration 

of the Estate late of 

John Frazer, dec/d. 
loth Sept. 1765 



The Accompt of Persifor Frazer 
Administrator of the Estate of John Frazer, deceased. 

Imprimis 

The said Accomptant Charges himself with all and 
singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said 
deceased as mentioned in an Inventory thereof re- 
maining in the Register Generals Office at Philadel- 
phia amounting to £819 , , i , , 11 

Also with Money Reced : from Hugh Frazer for a 

Right to a seat in y/e Presbyterian Church 4 , , 10 , , 

£823 , , 1 1 , , II 
68 



paid 
paid 
paid 
paid 
paid 
paid 
paid 



Item The said Accomptant prays Allowance for his 
Several payments and disbursements made out of 

the same as follows Viz/e 

Paid for Letters of Administration etc £ i 

paid Alex/r. Frazer for a Coffin lo 

paid Ann Brown pr acc/t and Rec/t 

William Henry 

the Sexton 2 

Mary Barclay 

Philip Flick.. 

Henry and Bensted 15 

Presty Blackstone i 

Nicholas Brooks 1 

paid John Faries 2 

paid James Alexander 43 

paid William Rush pr Order etc 22 

paid John Mussur i 

paid Mary Carr i 

paid John Weir 23 

paid Daniel M/c.Lonen i 

paid Furgus M/cIlvaine 11 

paid Doctor Redman i 

paid Usher and Mitchell 20 

paid John M/c.Calla 14 

paid John Williams 2 

paid William Crispin 2 

paid Adm./rs of Joseph Bell 3 

paid Mary Jenkins 

paid W/m. Rigden and Son . 



paid Margaret Allen 132 



II 

15 
7 

14 
I 

6 
13 

3 
12 

3 
13 
19 

4 



2 

14 
16 

4 
1 1 

19 
I 

15 
16 



1/2 



£336,, 9.. 4 lA' 



By allowance for the Sum of £156 , , 13 , , 9 be- 
ing the am/t. of Sundry outstanding debts 
Charged to this Accomptant in the Inventory 

as pr List 156 , , 13 , , 9 

Paid at the Reg/r. Gen/1. Office for these ac- 

compts Copy etc i , , 10 , , - 

By an Allowance made the Accomptant for his 

time trouble and Expence in the Administration 20,, -,, - 

Ballance on this Settlement to be disposed of 

as the Law directs 308 , , 18 , , 9 1/2 



£823 , , II , ,11 



69 



The Foregoing Writing is a true Copy of the Acco/t. of the estate of 
John Frazer deceased taken from the original remaining in the 
Reg/r. Gen. /Is Ofifice at Philadelphia Given under the Seal of the 
said Ofifice this i8/th day of January in the year 1774 

John Maxfield D :Reg/r. 
Endorsed Copy of the Acco/t. of John Frazer's Estate. 



A List of Desperate Debts due to the Estate of John Frazer deceas'd 

Viz. 



W/m. Shields ^37 

William Wrath i 

Anne Campbell 

David Wagoner 

Dan Winter 2 

Bryan Connoly 9 

Charles Quin 

Catharine Lawless 2 

Rich/d. Scott 19 

Moore the Hatter - 

John May 3 

W/m. Talbert i 

Geo. Black 

M/rs. Coventan i 

M/r. Young the Sailor i 

Dillworth and Warner 

Nurse Gibbs 

Mrs. Jones i 

Daniel Fink i 

Ann Lees 2 

Eliza Scott 

M/rs. Stevens 2 

M/rs. Murphy 

Hannah M/cGonnagan 

Nathan/1. Hood - 

Mr/s. Williams i 

Anne Hamilton 2 

Mr/s. Dunnavon 

Sarah Wiley i 



,, 10, 


, 2 


,, 8, 


, I 1/2 


,, 10, 


. 3 


,, 5, 


, 6 


,, 5. 


, - 


,, 5. 


, - 


,, 3. 


. 9 


,.13. 


, I 1/2 


,, 3. 


, - 


, , 10, 


, I 


,, I , 


. 9 


,,17. 


, 1 


J f ~ y 


. 7 


i 1 ~ ) 


, 6 


,, 6, 


, II 


,, 9. 


. 3 


,,14. 


, II 


,, 4, 


, 9 


,,17' 


, I 


,, 3. 


, 4 


. . II 


, I 


.,16. 


, 10 


.,18, 


, 6 


,, II , 


. 5 


, , 4> 


, 2 


,, 3. 


. 5 


,, s. 


, ID 


,, 8, 


, 6 


,, 10, 


, - 



70 



Mr/s. Allen j 

Geo. M/cintire 

Stephen Hamilton j 

Mary Hayes 

George Moore . 

List of Desperate Debts Continued 

Ani/t. bro/t. Over £69 

Jonathan James 

Aaron James 

Michael Brazil . 

Mary Clifton - 

Cathrine Morton 

James Dawson 

Rose Mahony n 

James Smith 2 

Alex/r. Kennedy i 

Abigail M/cCim 2 

Eliz/a. Scott 2 

Mary Newell i 

John Woodside 

Deborah Wright 

James Forrister 2 

Owen Sullivan i 

John Erskine 

M/rs. Macky - 

James Chalmers 4 

Nicholas Fitzsimons 3 

Patrick Dunnavon i 

Geo. Linmire I 

Tho/s. Grahams 2 

Josiah Mitchel - 

Mr/s. Lovegrove i 

Geo. Young i 

M/rs. Garrick 

John Gordon i 

Peter Gofif 5 

W/m. Henderson (new Providence) 3 

W/m. Massey 1 

Delaney the Constable 



17 
13 
3 
15 
16 



4 
6 



4 
4 
3 

5: 
II 

II 

15 

ID 

5 
I 

6, 

19: 
12 

6 

14 
8 

19 
3 

I 
5 

ID 



17 

9. 
17 

6 
12 

4 



II 1/2 
II 



10 
8 

5 
6 

II 
6 
2 

3 
8 

4 1/2 

9 

9 

4 
6 
6 

9 
6 
6 
9 
9 
I 
II 1-/2 
6 
9 

8 
8 
3 



£124,, 16,, 



71 



Mary Penhoysel 24/3 

Culton y/e Seaman 10/6 
M/rs. Dyer 5/10 

Jn/o. White (ropetnaker 9/2 

David Fitzgerald 27/10 

From the account of the administration of Persifor Frazer it would 
seem that there were other Frazers (Hugh and Alexander), here and 
that John Frazer owned a seat in the Presbyterian Church and was 
probably himself a Presbyterian. 

The following are seven generations (XIV to XX) of the direct 
line. Only one son in each of these generations married and had issue. 



72 



I owe to the kindness of my cousin Mr. Joseph S. Harris the permis- 
sion to pubHsh the following tables and notes on the individuals therein 
mentioned. Part of the data is taken from an unpublished manuscript 
of his on "the Frazer family", and part from his published volume on 
"the Harris Ancestry" (Phila. 1898). 



Generation XIV. 



In- 
dex 
No. 


Name 


Date 

of 
Birth 


Date 

of 

Marriage 


Name of 
Spouse 


Date 

of 
Death 


Residence and Remarks 


' 


Persifor Frazer 


about 
1667 


about 
1700 


Margaret 

Clayton or 

Carlton 


about 
1740 


Tonyhannigin. County 
Monaghan, Ireland. 



Generation XV. 



The children of Persifor Frazer XIV-i and Margaret Carlton. 





Elizabeth 
Frazer 


about 
1 70 1 


about 
1718 


Alexander 
Smith 


After 
1766 


Clanickny, County 
Monaghan, Ireland. 




Persifor 


about 
1703 






bet. 
1737 
and 
1755 






Rebecca 


about 
1705 


unmarri'd 




? 






a daughter 


about 
1707 


? 


— Speer 


? 


Chester, now Delaware 
Co., Pa. 




John 


Aug. 
8 


June 16 
1735 


Mary Smith 


Sep. 7 
1765 


Newtown, Del. Co., Pa. 


6 


Margaret 


1709 
about 
1711 


about 
1729 


John Geiger 


? 


County Monaghan, 
Ireland. 
Later in America (?) 


7 


Sarah 


about 
1712 


about 
1735 


John Price 


? jCounty Monaghan, 
1 Ireland. 



73 



Smith Family 
Generation XIV. 



In- 
dex 

No. 


Name 


Date 

of 

Birth 


Date 

of 

Marriage 


Name 
of 

Spouse 


Date 

of 

Death 


Residence and Remarks 


I 


Robert Smith 


Sept. 
1678 


? 


Mary 
Douglass 


1756 


near Glasslough, 
County Monaghan, 
Ireland. 



Robert Smith's oldest sister married John Wattson whose grand- 
nephew (grandson of his brother William Wattson) brought over a 
letter dated June 1755 to John Frazer in Philadelphia. 

Generation XV. . 
The children of Robert Smith and Mary Douglass 



I 


Andrew 


? 


Not 
Married 


— — — 


? 


County Monaghan, 
Ireland. 


2 


Jane 


? 


? 


John Armstrong 


1767 


County Monaghan, 

Ireland. 
Had one son Andrew 


3 


Elizabeth 


? 


? 


John 
Greacen 


after 
1784 


Clanickney, Tynan. 
Had one son Robert. 


4 


Eleanor 
(called also 
Ellen) 


? 


? 


John 

Morison 


1783 


Co., Monaghan, 

Ireland. 
Had issue. 


5 


Mary 


Feb. 


June 16 


John 


July 5 


Pennsylvania. 






10 


1735 


Frazer 


1764 


H.id Issue. 






1713 








See elsewhere. 


6 


Margaret 


? 


? 


Men 
Cooke 


? 


Had no issue. 


7 


Sarah 
(called also 
Salle) 


? 


? 


William 
Crook- 
slianks 
after- 
wards 
Judge 


? 


County Monaghan, 

Ireland. 
Had one son William 


S 


M.irlha 


? 


? 


Andrew 
Wilson 


? 


Co., Monaghan, 
Ireland. Had no issue. 



74 



Generation XVI. 

The children of John Frazer XV-5 and Mary Smith XV-5. 



In- 
dex 
No. 


Name 


Date 

of 
Birth 


Date 

of 

Marriage 


Name 

of 

Spouse 


Date 

of 

Death 


Residence and Remarks 


I 


Persifor 


Aug. 

9 
1736 


Oct. 2 
1766 


Mary Worrall 
Taylor 


Apr. 

24 

1792 


Pennsylvania 


2 


Robert 


July 

21 

1738 


"" 


— — — — 


1763 


11 


3 


John 


Oct. 

9 
1740 


— — ■ 


■ — — — — 


Aug. 

30 

1741 


II 


4 


John (2d) 


July 

31 

1 741 


— — 


— — — — 


Sep. 7 
1742 


* ' 


5 


Mary 


Oct. 

4 
1744 


— — 




July 
1746 


II 


6 


Elizabeth 


July 

9 
1747 


— — 


— — — — 


Oct. 9 
•747 


II 


7 


Thomas 


Sep. 

23 

1748 


— 


— — — — 


Dec. 

12 

1749 


11 


8 


Sarah 


Oct. 

IS 

1750 


about 
1772 

about 
1790 


I Jacob 

Vernon 

II Samuel 

Hewes 


June 

17 

1835 


Aston township, Ches- 
ter, now Del., Co. Pa. 


9 


Mary 


May 

30 

1753 


— — 


— — — — 


Oct. 

8 
1754 




10 


Anne 


Sep. 

4 

1755 


about 
Oct. 1776 


Joshua 
Vernon 


Aug. 

18 

1825 





75 



"Persifor Frazer (XV-2) — Speaks in his letter* to his brother John, 

written in 1737, as if he, Persifor, were the head of the family. He was 
evidently the oldest son. He must have died after 1755 as Robt Smith 
mentions (probably) him and his sister Matty in a letter of this date." 



"Rebecca Frazer (XV-3) is spoken of as living in Ireland in 1737 — 
apparently unmarried. The correspondence does not again allude 
to her." 



"XV-4 Of this daughter we only know that her married name was 
Speer, that she and her husband probably emigrated to America with 
her brother John, and that they were living there in 1737." 



"John Frazer (XV-5) The Frazers were neighbors and on terms of 
affectionate intimacy with the family of Robert Smith in Ireland, into 
which John Frazer married, and the correspondence shows in the let- 
ters of Margaret H. Smith, written in 1737, and of Robert Smith, 
written in 1755, that the affection continued to exist; but the tradition 
in the family is that the match between John Frazer and Mary Smith 
did not have the approval of the latter's parents. The objection may 
have been founded on their reluctance to allow their eldest daughter 
to go on a perilous journey into a new country, for the marriage was 
made in view of immediate departure of the bride and groom to 
America, which took place on the 28th of June, 1735, only 12 days after 
the wedding. Their voyage to America was of about the usual length, 
and they reached Philadelphia on the 28th of September. Their first 
home was at Newtown, now Delaware County, Pennsylvania, to which 
place the family letters which were written from Ireland in 1737 were 
directed. The address of the letter which Persifor, John's father, [and 
Persifor his brotherf] wrote to John Frazer at that date was: 
"Newtown, New township" The township was laid out about 
1685 with a "townstead" in or as near as convenient to the 
centre. The lots in this townstead or village were distributed to the 
purchasers of land in the township in proportion to the number 
of acres bought by each settler. "Newtown Square" still remains the 
most important settlement in the township, to testify to this early ar- 
rangement. There was a similar settlement, also called "Newtown", 
in Bucks County. 

"In the settlement of Chester and Delaware Counties, the hilly 

*There is some doubt of the existence of this letter. Its origin may have been 
an old abbreviated copy of the letter of Persifor (XIV-i) to his son John (p. 19)- 
It is of the same date, bears the same address, mentions the same facts in the same 
order, and nothing else. P- F- 

tSee foot note above. 

76 



country was largely taken up by Welshmen, and this was the case with 
Newtown township, but what it was which attracted John Frazer there 
is not known." 

"The English settlers, who were mostly Quakers, occupied the 
country to the southward, and there was no great love between them 
and the Presbyterians, to which faith the families of John Frazer and 
his wife adhered." 

"Whether his early career in Pennsylvania was that of a merchant 
is not known, though it is not unlikely. He removed to Philadelphia, 
where his brother-in-law, William Crookshanks, addresses a letter to 
him in 1759. In the address of this letter he calls him "Marchand". 
He lived at one time on the north side of Arch street below Fourth 
street, and at another time on "Society Hill," at the mouth of Dock 
Creek. He was a shipping merchant, trading chiefly to the West In- 
dies, and is said to have owned the vessels which carried his ventures." 

"There was a John Frazer licensed to trade with the Indians about 
August, 1748, and again September 4, 1753. As the name was not a 
common one, it is probable that the licenses were given to the person 
whose history is under consideration." 

"He revisited Ireland at least twice after his emigration, once 
probably in the latter part of 1737, and once not far from 1752. He 
seems to have been a man of kindly nature. All of the letters written 
by various members of his family, and of his wife's family, speak of him 
in terms of afifection, and they entrust to him the care of their interests 
in America." 

"An unexecuted copy of John Frazer's will dated, Philadelphia, 
1764, leaves to his son Persifor £5, he having apparently already re- 
ceived his portion of his father's estate ; to his son Robert £100, "but if 
Robert is now dead, or shall die before me," £100 is to be equally divided 
between his wife Mary, and his daughters Sarah and Ann. All of his 
children except these four had died in infancy. He gives his wife one 
third of his estate absolutely, the other two thirds to be used so far as 
necessary for the maintenance and education of Sarah and Ann, and 
the residue to be theirs absolutely. His friend, Abraham Usher, mer- 
chant of Philadelphia, to be their guardian; his wife, and his son 
Persifor to be his executors." 

"He and his wife both died in Philadelphia." 



"Of Margaret Frazer (XV-6) we know little, except that she mar- 
ried a man named (probably John) Geiger; that her husband was dead 
before June, 1737, leaving children(i)Jack, who was then in Glaslough, 
Ireland, probably with relatives, and (2) Mally or Margaret, who was 
with her grandfather, Persifor Frazer. There were two younger chil- 
dren whose names are not known, who had then lately died. 'I he 



17 



family was apparently broken up temporarily by a severe attack of 
smallpox, which prostrated Margaret, and from which she recovered 
slowly. She may have gone to America after this time, as we know 
that there were two sisters of John Frazer living in America in 1766, of 
whom Mrs. Speer was probably one, and Mrs. Geiger the other." 



"OfSarahFrazer(XV-7)we know only that she married John Price, 
and that she had a young daughter in 1737. Sarah Frazer was living 
in Pennsylvania September 1768." 



"We know but little of Robert Frazer (XVI-7). William Crook- 
shanks notes that he visited Ireland in 1759, landing in Dublin March 
8 of that year, expecting soon to return to America. He had probably 
already adopted the mercantile life as his profession, and was on a trad- 
ing voyage. He was probably interested with his father in shipping 
ventures and perhaps in ships. He was lost at sea in the latter part of 
the year 1763, or the early part of 1764 — the earliest records giving 
1764 as the date. His father in the draft of his will mentioned above 
considers that Robert is probably dead. This will must have been 
written in the first half of 1764, as it speaks of John Frazer's wife who 
died July 7, 1764, as likely to survive him, so that she was not then even 
seriously sick." 

"News travelled slowly in those days, and Robert Frazer would not 
have been given up for lost for some months after he was last heard 
from." 

"His estate seems to be approaching a settlement when Benjamin 
Davis promises. December 18, 1764, to pay Persifor Frazer, Robert's 
brother, £90 i8s. Pennsylvania currency, being for Davis' part of the 
Brigantine Ranger, and her cargo due to the estate of Robert Frazer. 
July 6, 1766, his father and brother being then both dead. Persifor 
Frazer (XVI-i) makes settlement with the Executors of Thomas Bar- 
tholomew, relating to money recovered by the said Persifor Frazer in 
Carolina on a policy of insurance; Thomas Bartholomew having ship- 
ped, in company with the Frazers, a quantity of beer to Carolina. 
From all of which we may infer that Robert Frazer was lost on the 
brig Ranger of which he was supercargo, and that Bartholomew and 
Robert Frazer, and perhaps his father, were interested in the venture." 

"We have in this family a noticeable record of early deaths, six of 
the ten children of John and Mary Frazer dying in infancy. Their 
early deaths may point to feeble health on the part of their mother, and 
may have caused in her the depression that habitually sought relief in 
prayer as narrated by her daughter Sarah (XVI-8). There was a vein 
of religious melancholy in several of her descendants." 

78 



"The name of Thomas Frazer (XVI-7) is tliat of the 12th Lord 
Lovat, who, it is behaved, was the father of Persifor Frazer (XIV-i)." 



"The first husband of Sarah Frazer (XVI-8), (Jacob Vernon,) and 
the husband of Anne Frazer(XVI-io), (Joshua Vernon), were brothers. 
Their parents were Jacob Vernon (XV-?) of Thornbury Township, 
who died there in 1748, and Elizabeth (Hickman) Cheyncy, who were 
married about 1730. Their grand-parents were Jacob Vernon (XIV-?), 
who died in 1740, and Ann Yearsley, who were married in 1701 ; and 
their great-grand-parents were Randal Vernon (XIII- ? ) of Sandyway 

Cheshire, England, born 1640, died 1725, and Sarah , who died 

February 18, 1719." 

"Randal Vernon settled in Nether Providence township, where he 
was an influential Friend, and was entrusted with the "public business" 
of his denomination. He was a member of Assembly in 1687." 

"Sarah Frazer(XVI-8)lived within a short distance of her brother 
Persifor, and it was to her house that Mrs. Persifor Frazer sent her 
children for safety when the British raided her house in September, 
1777. Sarah's husband, Jacob Vernon, died about 1788, and she married 
about 1790, Samuel Hewes (XVI-?)who was a son of Samuel Hewes 
(XV-?) and Mary (or Ann) Dare, and a grandson of Moses Hewes 
(XIV- ?) and Sarah Watson." 

"In 1793 Samuel Hewes (XVI- ?) was granted a license to keep the 
"Seven Stars" tavern in Aston township, Delaware County, which 
license was renewed from time to time till his death in 1820. His 
widow Sarah continued to keep the "Seven Stars" till 1824." 

"The "Seven Stars" was located at Village Green, and was famous 
as the headquarters of Lord Cornwallis the Conmiander of the British 
forces which lay in that vicinity some days after the battle of Bran- 
wine. The tavern dates back to 1762, and it was a well known house 
for a hundred years after that time." 

"Samuel Hewes who was born June 20, 1762, was his wife's junior 
by several years. He died in 1820." 



"Anne Frazer(XVI-io)lived with her brother Persifor, to whom she 
was devotedly attached, till her marriage. We have a note of her and 
her husband as about to remove to Dilvvorthstown, a few miles west of 
Persifor's home in 1778, and we know that some years later they re- 
moved to Redstone, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, about 30 miles 
south of Pittsburg, and near the Monongahela River. Ann was, as 
her correspondence shows, a person of much sprightliness and warm 
affections. Her husband, Joshua Vernon died March 1798." 

79 



"Phebe Vernon, a sister of Jacob and Joshua, married John 
Harper; and this relationship doubtless promoted the companionship 
which we know to have existed between Persifor Frazer (XVI- 1) and 
Major John Harper, as he came to be known during the Revolution." 

Joseph S. Harris. 



Generation XVII. 



The children of Persifor Frazer (XVI-i) and Mary Worrall 
Taylor (XVI-i). 







Date 


Date 


Name 


Date 








of 


of 


of 


of 






Name 


Birth 


Marriage 


Spouse 


Death 


Residence and Remarks 


I 


Sarah 


Jan. 

II 

1769 


never 
married 





Mar. 

3 
184 1 




2 


Robert 


Aug. 


May 3 


Mary Ball 


Jan. 


Mary B. died — 






30 


1798 


b. Apl. 23, 1778 


20 


June 21, 1800 






1771 


Oct. 15 
1803 

Feb. II 
1818 


Elizab 

Fries 

b. June 16, 1778 

Alice 

Yarnall 

b. Aug. 28, 1778 


1821 


Eliz. F. died— 
June 19, 1815 

Alice Y. died- 
March 23, 1830 


i 


Mary Anne 


Feb. 


Oct. 16 


Jon'" 


Feb. 








17 


«794 


Smith 


19 








1774 






1845 




4 


Persifor 


Feb. 

26 

1776 


never 


married 


Sept. 

29 

1798 




5 


Martha 


May 

22 

1778 


11 


It 


July 

20 

1778 




6 


Mary 


Jan. 


Feb. 27 




May 








14 


1800 


Jos. Smith 


23 








1780 






1862 




7 


John 


Dec. 

27 

1781 


never 


married 


Aug. 

3 
1783 




8 


Martha 


Oct. 

14 

1783 


Oct. 15 
1818 


W" Morris 


Jan. 

27 

1867 




9 


Elizabeth 


May 

17 

1786 






May 

13 
1788 




10 


Elizabeth 


Dec. 

17 

1788 


Jan. 9 
1812 


H'y. Myers 


Apr. 
25 
1857 





80 



"Sarah Frazer (XVII-i) had the family appreciation of humor, and 
many odd stories are told of her. She was lame, having dislocated her 
hip, though at what age is not known, probably after reaching matur- 
ity. She was plain spoken and somewhat eccentric. In her later 
years she was asked by a person who knew her slightly if she was not 
the mother of some person who was named. She replied with empha- 
sis, and, perhaps, not without regret — "I am not the mother of any 
living thing; I am nothing but a nasty old maid." 

"She became in middle life a convert to the Methodist faith, and 
identified herself very thoroughly with that body which had at that 
time but little social position. She lived with her mother at Thorn- 
bury till about 1825, when her mother went to live at the house of her 
daughter, (Mrs. Joseph Smith) in East Whiteland. She was an in- 
mate for a short time of the family of her sister Martha (Mrs. William 
Morris), but accepted a little later an invitation to make her home in 
Philadelphia with her sister Mary Ann (Mrs. Jonathan Smith). This 
was a Presbyterian household, and as inter-denominational charity was 
quite undeveloped in those days, she found that she had rather live 
with those who were of the same household of faith with herself than 
with her kindred who had views not in sympathy with hers. She re- 
turned to West Chester and took up her abode with an English family 
named Hodson who lived on Gay street. She spent the rest of her life 
with them, and died at their house." 



"Robert Frazer (XVII-2) was born in Middletown township. He 
received an unusually expensive education and started to practice law 
in possession of a law library imported from England at a cost of £100, 
being admitted at Chester to practice at the Chester County bar July 
30, 1792. He lived in Chester County till about 1807, when he re- 
moved to Philadelphia, where he remained till after the death of his 
second wife, who died in 1814, when he again removed to Chester 
County to a farm at the intersection of the road from West Chester 
to Philadelphia with the road running south from Paoli to Media and 
Chester, about where the West Chester road crosses Crum Creek, 
about 10 miles from Chester, probably about where Edgmont P. O. 
now is. It was here that he died. 

"The family tradition says in regard to him, that he was the leading 
member of the bar of Chester County, a most beautiful and winning 
speaker, but terrible in denunciation. He had a melodious voice. 
He was the idol of the place, and was held by his friends to be the 
equal of Sargent and Binney." 

81 



"He drew, in 1820, the petition to the Legislature for the removal 
of the County Seat of Delaware County from Chester. He was 
Deputy Attorney General from May 1793 to February 1800, and from 
February to November 1816." 

"His Philadelphia home, where Persifor (XVni-4) in 1809, and 
John (XVni-5) in 181 2, were born, was on the south west corner of 
Chestnut and Third streets." 

"His first wife, Mary Ball, was a daughter of Jos. and Sarah Ball, 
born April 23, 1778. She died without issue May 3, 1798." 

"His second wife, Elizabeth Fries, daughter of John and Ann 
Fries, Quakers of Arch street, Philadelphia, was born June 16, 1778, 
and died in childbirth, June 19, 181 5. She was the mother of all his 
children, except the youngest." 

His third wife, Alice Yarnall, born August 28, 1778, died March 
23, 1830, was a daughter of Joseph and Sarah Pennell, Quakers of 
Chester County. Her grandfather was Joseph Pennell, born August 
3, 1706. Her great-grandparents were Joseph Pennell, of Edgmont, 
Delaware County, born December 12, 1674, and Alice Garrett, of 
Darby, and her great-great-grandparents were Robert Pennell, of 
Middletown, and 

"Alice Pennell married, first, Eli Yarnall, a son of Dr. Peter Yar- 
nall, of Concord township, who was born 1754, died 1798." 



"Mary Anne Frazer (XVn-3) has left no history that I know of, 
except that she was especially beloved by her namesake, my mother. 
The record of her husband's life will be found in the Smith genealogy." 



"Persifor Frazer (XVn-4). His father proposed that he should be 
a fuller, there being opportunities doubtless at some of the mills on 
Chester Creek to learn that business. It was, however, distasteful to 
the son who thought that he preferred a mercantile life. He made a 
voyage to Lisbon at the age of 17, the year after his father's death. 
The return voyage was a long one, 104 days from Lisbon to Philadel- 
phia. They ran out of provisions, were forced to live on short allow- 
ances, and had to draw largely on the ship's store of figs, raisins and 
Lisbon wine. They had divided their last biscuit when they were re- 
lieved by a passing vessel." 

"On their next voyage which was to have taken them to a French 
port they were taken by an English vessel, and the whole crew, except 
the Captain, Frazer, who, perhaps, was supercargo, and the steward 

82 



were put in irons. They, however, overpowered the prize crew and 
regained possession of the vessel. They again shaped their course for 
their port but ran into a fog. When it lifted they found themselves in 
the middle of an English fleet. They were captured, and Frazer was 
sent to Halifax, Nova Scotia. He was released through the exertions 
of the American Consul, Phineas Bond. This ended his seafaring 
life. He was appointed to a position in the first United States bank, 
of which he became Cashier. In the summer of 1798, the yellow fever 
raged in Philadelphia. The President of the Bank died, and it was 
decided to remove the institution to Germantown. In making this 
removal in the hot humid weather of September, Frazer exerted him- 
self greatly, with the result that he sickened and died of yellow fever 
after five days' illness on the 29th of September, 1798, within a week 
after the bank's removal. Such was the confusion at the time, and so 
restricted the intercourse that he was dead and buried before his 
mother knew that he was sick, and it was with considerable difficulty 
that she discovered the place of his burial." 



"Mary Frazer (XVIT6) was a woman of vigorous mind and body. 
Like her elder sister, Mary Anne, she was of the severe type of piety, 
common among Presbyterians at the beginning of the last century, 
and so was less popular among her young relatives than if she had been 
more genial, but her children always spoke in warm praise of her, and 
she was doubtless an estimable woman. Her daughter Rhoda says 
that her mother and her aunt Martha (XVII-8) had very fine voices, 
and in their later life often sang for hours from an old music book in 
Mary's possession, Mary's voice being a sweet soprano, and Martha's 
a rich contralto. If Mary had a fine voice she did not transmit it to 
any of her children who were all deficient in musical ability." ("For 
an account of her husband, see Smith (Jonathan-Joseph) record.") 
"She was a woman who had had claims to beauty in early life. She 
was of medium height (say 5 feet 3 inches), and of rather spare figure, 
though not abnormally thin." 



"Martha Frazer (XVII-8) married at the age of thirty-five (later 
than usual in those days) William Morris, who was a small farmer 
living near West Chester. When her mother's estate was settled, she 
took her share in the inheritance, and bought a farm in Bethel town- 
ship, not far from Marcus Hook, where she lived until she was quite 

83 



advanced in years, after which she made her home with her daughter, 
Mrs. Samuel Arthur." 

"She followed the faith of her husband who was a Methodist, and 
though she was in but moderate circumstances, she was of such sunny 
temper, and so great a sense of the humorous that she was an universal 
favorite in the family. Her husband who was born in May, 1787, died 
about 1873. He was not a person of much culture, but he was an hon- 
est and upright, if not an enterprising man." 

"Elizabeth Frazer (XVH-g) met an early death when two years 
old by drowning in a well six feet deep near her father's house, about 
sunset. Her father who was at Sharpless' mill when he heard of the 
accident hastened home, and the exertion of the walk joined to his re- 
gret that his neglect to secure the top of the well should have caused 
the death of the baby to whom he was tenderly attached, brought on 
or aggravated a heart trouble from which he never wholly recovered." 

"Elizabeth Frazer (XVH-io). It is not known why General and 
Mrs. Frazer should have been so attached to the name Elizabeth as to 
give the name to two of their children. Mrs. Frazer's grandfather's 
second wife was named Elizabeth, as was her brother Isaac's wife, but 
neither of them were favorites in the family. It is probable, however, 
that it was the last mentioned person for whom these children were 
named. The second Elizabeth was always called Eliza in the family." 

"Henry Myers, whom Elizabeth married, was at that time a pros- 
perous farmer of Concord township, Delaware County. He was of a 
family originally French Huguenots, living near the Swiss border. 
The original name was Mai, Maiere, or Maieres, which was 
changed to Myers after the emigration to America. The grandfather 
of Henry Myers was named Henri, an officer in the Swiss army. His 
oldest son John, also a Swiss farmer, was captured and sent to Holland 
prior to 1770, but was afterwards ransomed, and sent to America, set- 
tling in Chester County. He married one of the Mendenhalls of that 
locality, and his eldest son, born January i, 1789, was the Henry 
Myers who married Elizabeth Frazer. He was the prothonotary, 
recorder of deeds, register of wills and clerk of the court of Delaware 
County from January 17, 1824, to December 30, 1832." 

"December 27, 1833, he was commissioned one of the associate 
judges of Delaware County, and while discharging the duties of that 
office was elected, in 1836, State Senator for the district comprising 
Delaware, Chester and Lancaster Counties, in which capacity he 
served for four years. He was appointed on the Committee to receive 
Lafayette December 27, 1833. Unfortunately, the temptations of 
Harrisburg were too great for his strength, and his career was not a 
prosperous one thereafter. He lost the confidence of his fellow 
citizens, who no longer elected him to office, dissipated his property, 

84 



and on February 23. 1855, he was frozen to death on the pubhc road 
near Cobb's Creek, where he was found the next day." 

"The family home at that time was in Upper Darby township, Dela- 
ware County, a short distance west of Cobb's Creek. It had been in 
Concord township in their earlier life." 



Generation XVIII. 

The children of Robert Frazer XVII-2 

By his first wife Mary Ball he had no children. 

By his second wife Elizabeth Fries he had : 







Date 
of 


Date 
of 


Name 
of 


Date 
of 






Name 


Birth 


Marriage 


Spouse 


Death 


Residence and Remarks 


• 


John Persifor 


Dec. 

20 

1804 


never 


married 


Mch. 
1805 




2 


Jacob Taylor 


Apl. 

8 

1806 


tt 


tf 


Apl. 

10 

1806 




J 


Anne Fries 


July 

7 

1807 


Dec. 28 
1825 


Dr. Jno. Rhea 
Barton 


Nov. 
1837 


Philadelphia 


4 


Persifor 


June 

19 

1809 


never 


married 


Apl. 

II 

1880 


Died in Rome, Italy 


5 


John Fries 


Jul^ 
1812 


Sept. I 
1838 


Charlotte 

(Jeffers) 

Cave 


Oct. 
12 

1872 




6 


Mary Worrall 


Jan. 

15 

1814 


never 


married 


June 

II 

1814 





By his third wife Alice (Pennell) Yamall he had 



Joseph 
Pennell 
Afterwards 
nmed Robert 



Dec. 

29 

1818 



May 26 
1846 



Jane 

Biddle 

Wood 



May 

4 
1878 



Philadelphia 



85 



"Anne Fries Frazer (XVIII-3). Her husband, John Rhea Barton, 
was, perhaps, the most distinguished surgeon of his day in Philadel- 
phia. After the death of his first wife he married Susan Rotch, 
born Susan Ridgway, daughter of Jacob Ridgway, a wealthy merchant 
of Philadelphia, and the widow of Mr. Thomas Rotch of New Bedford, 
Mass. 



"Persifor Frazer (XVIII-4) was educated for the legal profession, 
but when he had finished his studies, traces of pulmonary weakness 
induced him to spend a considerable time abroad. After his return 
home he found that persons with whom he had commenced life had 
progressed so far that should he then begin the practice of law he 
would no longer be in the same class with them, and as he had a com- 
petence, he decided that he would not embark in business. He spent 
much of his life abroad, though he considered it to be the duty of a 
loyal American to be in his own country during the Civil War. But on 
the whole, he found a large society of congenial people with interests 
similar to his own on the continent of Europe, so that he returned 
there from time to time, and he was in Rome, Italy, when he died 
from an attack of Roman fever." 

"He was a man of literary tastes, well read in history and 
belles-letters. He had kindly impulses, and a strong family affection, 
and he did many things to make easier the lot of those of his relatives 
who were less fortunate than himself." 

"He gave a good deal of attention to the question of the Frazer 
ancestry, and his researches in France, Ireland and Scotland throw a 
good deal of fight on the question." 



"John Fries Frazer (XVIII-5) was graduated from the University 
of Pennsylvania with the highest honors in the class of 1830. He 
afterwards took complete courses of study in medicine and law, and 
was admitted to the Bar of Philadelphia in 1833, after passing a 
brilliant examination. He was prevented by absence from Philadelphia 
from passing an equally brilliant examination in medicine. As he had 
a taste for scientific pursuits, he entered the service of the First Geo- 
logical Survey of Pennsylvania, in which he was an assistant from 1836 
to 1838 under Henry D. Rogers, State Geologist. 

Upon the organization of the Central High School of Philadelphia, 
as the capstone of the structure of public school education, by his life- 
long friend, Alexander Dallas Bache, John Frazer was appointed Pro- 
fessor of Natural Philosophy in that Institution, which position he held 
from October, 1842 to April, 1844. 

In 1844 he was appointed to the chair of Natural Philosophy and 

86 



Chemistry in the University o( Pcinisylvania and continned to dis- 
charge the duties of that position during the rest of his life. He 
received from the University of Lewislnirg the degree of Ph. D. 
in 1854, that of LL. D. from Harvard College in 1857, was the 
Vice-Provast of the University of Pennsylvania from 1855 to 1868, 
a Vice-President of the American Philosophical Society from 1855 to 
1858, a life member of the Academy of Natural Science, one of the in- 
corporators of the National Academy of Science, of which he contin- 
ued a member throughout his life, and Editor of the Journal of the 
Franklin Institute from 1850 to 1866. 

"He had, to an exceptional degree, the family gift of wit and 
humor. He( was the intimate associate of many of the leading scien- 
tific men of his day. He was very much respected and admired by 
those who came under his influence as a teacher, and was one of the 
strongest men who have held a professional chair in the University of 
Pennsylvania." 

"He died suddenly of a heart attack at the University on the eve 
of the opening of the first course in its present position in West Phila- 
phia, the day after the faculty took possession of the new buildings. 

His wife, Charlotte, was a daughter of Thomas and Sarah Hollins- 
head Cave, of Philadelphia, born September 12, 181 5, died at Lenox, 
Massachusetts, August 19, 1881. Her father was a merchant of Phila- 
delphia, and Apothecary General during the War of 1812; and her 
mother was a daughter of Major John Hollinshead, of New Jersey, an 
officer of the line of the Continental Army in the Revolutionary War, 
and an original member of the Society of the Cincinnati.* 



"Joseph Pennell Frazer (XVni-7) was also educated as a lawyer, 
and was admitted to practice at the Bar of Delaware County February 
24, 1845. His inheritance was left in the hands of Henry Myers, hus- 
band of his aunt Elizabeth Frazer (XVH-ig), who failed to account for 
it satisfactorily, so that his fortune proved less than that of his half- 
brothers and sister. His name was changed at his father's death, and 
was Robert Frazer after that time. He was deputy Attorney General 
of Pennsylvania in 1845, being appointed in February of that year. 
He was the second President of the Camden and Atlantic Railroad, 
and was afterward President of the Wilmington and Reading Railroad. 
He died of apoplexy May 4, 1878." 

"His wife, a daughter of Samuel and Fanny Collins Wood, was born 
February 14, 1820, and died August 29, 1879. 

Joseph S. Harris. 



♦From whom the author of this book inherits membership in that Society. 

87 



Generation XIX. 

The children of John Fries Frazer (XVIII-5) and Charlotte (Jeffers) 

Cave (XVIII-i). 





Name 


Date 

of 

Birth 


Date 

of 

Marriage 


Name 

of 
Spouse 


Date 

of 
Death 


Residence and Remarks 


' 


Anne 


July 
24 
1839 


May 10 
1882 


Rev. Thos. K. 
Conrad 




Dr. Conrad was born 
Jan. 19, 1836, and died 
May 28, 1893. 


2 


Sarah 


Feb. 

17 

1841 


May 30 
1861 


Richard 
Lewis 
Ashhurst 






3 


Persifor 


July 

24 

1844 


Sept. 2 
1871 


Isabella 
Nevins 
Whelen 







Generation XX. 



The children of Persifor Frazer (XIX-3) and Isabella Nevins 
Whelen (XIX-2). 



I 


Charlotte 


Sept. 

I* 
1872 










2 


Persifor 


July 

3 
1874 


April 

12 

1898 


Mary 

Newbold 

Welsh 






3 


Laurence 


Feb. 
1878 






June 

29 

188 1 


Died at Buffalo Ridge 
Springs, Va. 


4 


John 


Feb. 

5 
1882 








Born 202 Rue de Rivoli, 
Paris, France. 



APPENDIX. 



Notes and researches relative to the early history of the descendants of 
Persifor Frazer (XlV-i), with correspondence, etc. 

Copy of a rough pencil sketch of a search in the County Monaghan 
by Persifor Frazer (XVIII-4, born 1809) for traces of the former resi- 
dence there of his great-great grandfather of the same name. 
July 5. 1846. I left the Dublin railway at 9 A.M. — took the Belfast 
mail from Drogheda to Newry and thence by car to Armagh where I 
arrived about 2 1/2 P.M. The next day hearing that a Mr. Nathaniel 
Greacen aged about 80 years lived in Armagh and kept a stationery 
shop — I called to see him under the supposition that he was the N. G. 
mentioned in Robert Greacen's letter to Persifor Frazer. He turned 
out to be another but had known Robert G. and his brothers who are 

all dead — Of well of them — informed me that the suit 

with Rev d M 'Curdy was not a hapc of nonsense but had not succeeded 
nevertheless for want of attention — he informed me that Mrs. Mary 
Wilson wife of George Wilson and a niece of R. Graecen of whom he 
speaks in (one) of his letters as the daughter of his sister Mary, was still 
living near Glasslough. 

Drove over to Glasslough — Stopt by chance at the house of a Mr. 
M 'Curdy who was a son of the Rev McCurdy former Presbyterian 
clergyman of Glasslough with whom Robert Greacen had the lawsuit — 
he informed me that his mother was a Cruikshank and directed me to 
Mrs Wilson's — Called on Wm. Walker the Parish clerk who stated 
that there was no Parish register as far back as 1740 — did not recol- 
lect any tombstone with the name of Frazer in the church yard. Went 
with the sexton to the church yard and hunted in vain for a tomb- 
stone — the sexton pointed out to me the townland of Tonynyhamigin 
(sic) — where P. Frazer had lived — it is across the lough towards 
Middleton. Clanickney is beyond that again — most of Clanickney is 
now occupied by Wilson the son of George and Mary W. — it appears 
to have come into the hands of the Greacens after the death of Robt. 
Smith and to have remained since in their family — 
The town clerk informed me of a Mr and Mrs Dunlap who had lived at 
Tonyhamigin until within a few years. There is now no house on the 

89 



townland — it belongs to the estate of the LesHes and was probably 
held by P. Frazer on a lease — 

I then called at Mr Wolf's the Vicar — he was not at home, but a 
young girl showed me the parish records — They went back no further 
that 1792.— no one so far could give me any record of the Frazers, nor 
appeared to have ever heard of them. 

I then drove out to Mullaban (?) about i 1/2 miles from Glasslough 
the residence of Mrs. Wilson — it is a small farm house of stone but of 
the most ordinary construction and appearance. — No one was at 
home but herself and she was bed ridden. — 

She recollected having heard the marriage of her Grandmother's sister 
with John Frazer spoken of — said it was without the knowledge or 
consent of the family and distressed them very much — Mrs. Frazer 
was the the eldest of the sisters and was much looked up to by the 
others — her own [grand (?)] mother Mrs Greacen was the young- 
est. — There was a brother named Andrew who was killed by accident 
at the burning of the mansion house at Clanickney — he left no issue — 
Alexander Smith who had the house at C. — was a cousin and not a 
brother —he left two daughters Elizabeth and Margaretta —does not 
know what became of them — 

The children of Robert Smith were Mary Frazer, Elis/th Greacen, Mar- 
tha Wilson, Ellen Morrison (went to America), Jane Armstrong, Sally 
Cruikshank, Margaretta who went to Dublin but could not say whether 
she married or not. From Mrs Wilson's I drove to Donagh church 
yard about 1/2 a mile ofif and searched it in company with some men 
who appeared familiar with the tombs but in vain. — None of them 
recollected having seen the name of Frazer (I found the tomb of the 
Greacens in Glasslough church yard). 

Many of the tombs were very ancient and going back to the 17th 
Century — in the oldest the letters were cut in relief. There were a 
great many old graves with unlettered headstones. — 
From Donagh I went to Emyvale to see an old couple Mr and Mrs 
Dunlap who had lived in Tonnyha. . . gan — neither of them recollected 
anything about P. Frazer except that Mrs D. — said that there was a 
hill that was known as Pers' brae — She recollected John Frazer 
marrying a Miss Smith but said positively at first that she was a sister 
of Alexander Smith and not a daughter of Robt. Smith, but when I 
told her what Mrs. Wilson had said she acknowledged that Mrs W. — 
was more likely to be correct, and she herself might be mistaken. 
Mr and Mrs. D — are about 90 years of age as I was informed — She 
said that her grandfather the Rev'd Mr Kennedy had purchased the 
holding of the Tonnyhamigin property from a Mr Flack before she was 
born. Mr F. had gone to America — 
1 then returned towards Armagh stopping at the Rev'd Mr Smith's 

90 



the Presbyterian clergyman of Glasslough but likely to be superseded 
or actually suspended — he could give me no information and said 
there was no presbyterian records of that date — I went thence to 
Caledon church yard but had no success in my search and then returned 
to Armagh the same evening. 



Copy of correspondence of Persifor Frazer (XVIII-4, b. 1809) 
with Wm. N. Frazer Esq. SS.C. 

41 Albany St. Edinburgh 

Balmoral hotel Princes St 
Aug. 1 2th, 1879 
Dear Sir 

Although quite unknown to you, I take the liberty of address- 
ing you with the purpose of asking some information that I think you 
can give me, on a subject in which I am interested — I am induced to 
do so from having seen your name in a back number of 'Notes and 
Queries' mentioned as one likely to possess the information I desire. 
Were I not entirely stranger in Great Britain I should have sought a 
line of introduction to you but with the exception of my banker in 
London and a few casual acquaintances met on the continent I know 
no one in the Kingdom and am a loss to whom to apply. 

I have come to Scotland principally to search for some trace of the 
origin of my Great-Great-Grand father, Persifor Frazer, who went 
from Scotland to Ireland, A.D. 1690 and settled in County Monaghan 
Ireland, where it is supposed he died and was buried — His only son 
John emigrated to America A.D. 1735 and settled at Philadelphia 
where his descendants still reside — The only letter we have of Persifor 
Frazer addressed to his son proves him to have been a man of educa- 
tion, and tradition says that he was a cousin of LordLovat.* — Although 
he is supposed to have gone to Ireland with the army of William III 
there are amongst his papers two letters one signed 'the King' and ad- 
dressed to Lord Kelso or Kindhedyf (I am not sure of the name), and 
another apparently written by his ... that must imply a previous 
connection with the cause of the Stuarts. These with the rather odd 

♦Mrs. Martha Morris recollects having heard John Watson a Scotchman who 
was a soldier in her father's regiment say that he heard that Persifor Frazer who 
went to Ireland was of the Frazers of Frazerdale, and thinks that he said that he 
was a cousin of Simon Lord Lovat. (Slip tacked on to above paper of notes.) 

tSee ante p. 11 et seq. .„ ' 

91 



hahie Pcrsifor which I have never met with out of our own family and 
which possibly was assumed ("Per se fortis") lead me to think that he 
might be identical with the Frazer who killed the piper and who after- 
wards took refuge in Wales. It is not improbable that he changed his 
first name, the spelling of his family name and perhaps also his politics 

The questions I am desirous to have answered are as follows 

1. Was it Alexander the eldest son of Thomas of Beaufort who killed 

the piper? If not, who was it? 

2. When was the man killed? If after the year 1690 my theory falls 

to the ground — an article in 'Notes and Queries' Oct. 2. 1858 
says that it occurred "sometime before 1692". 

3. Is it known if Alexander Frazer, (or the refugee if he was another) 

married? if so whom? My ancestor's wife was Margery 
Calton or Carlton, but whether he married in Scotland or Ire- 
land is unknown. His only son John was born A.D. 1709 — 
this implies a later marriage. 

4. Have you in your genealogical researches or elsewhere rriet with 

the name "Persifor" ? 

Allow me to add that I am pursuing the inquiry relative to my 
ancestors simply for my own satisfaction and with no designs whatever 
on the Lovat title or estates. There is I am informed a Mr Eraser from 
America who claims to be a descendant of Alexander Frazer the son of Thos. of 
Beaufort and who intends claiming the title of Lovat when he can make his prepara- 
tions, but I do not know him and have no connection with him. 

I have now but to apologize for the liberty I have taken in writing 
to you. I am aware that I have no claim whatever on your time or at- 
tention, and had I known any other way of getting the infonnation I 
want, I should not have presumed to have troubled you. 

If you can answer any or all of the questions above given and, will 
kindly do so you will lay md under a great obligation and I offer you 
my very warm thanks in advance whether you can or not. 

Accept my sincere apologies for my indiscretion in addressing you. 
Very respectfully 

your obedient Servant 

Persifor Frazer* 

of Philadelphia, U. States of America 

*Born 1809 

92 



Tornaveen 
Aberdeenshire 

17th Aug. 1879 
Dear Sir 

Your note of the 12th inst. has been forwarded to me here 
where I am having some shooting. This will account for the delay in 
replying to it. If I can be of any use to you in your investigations it 
would give me much pleasure and as I hope to be in Edinburgh in the 
course of a few days I shall do myself the pleasure of calling for you. 

It is generally understood that the Fraser who slew the piper fled to 
Wales, and a namesake of ours has been engaged for many years in try- 
ing to trace his descent from the place in question. I am almost cer- 
tain I have some notes on the subject which I may be able to lay my 
hands upon on my return to town. 

I rather think the Event took place subsequent to 1690. 

I never met with the name of "Persifor." 

A son by a 2nd marriage of my Great Grandfather (Francis Fraser 
of Findrack) emigrated to America, now nearly a century ago. Daniel 
was his name and I believe he married and had children, but we have 
now lost all trace of the family. 

In the hope of seeing you soon Believe me 

Yours truly 
Persifor Frazer Esq. 

Wm. N. Fraser 



Unsigned rough draft of letter to Wm. N. Fraser, Edinburgh 
From Persifor Frazer (XVIII-4, b. 1809) 

Liverpool, Aug. 20th, '79 
Dear Sir 

Your favor of the 17th inst. came to hand this morning. I 
left Edinburgh on Sunday last, to accompany my sister in law and niece 
who have come here to embark for home New York. Not having 
heard from you at that date, I thought it probable that you were from 
home and dispaired of hearing from you — I thank you very much for 
your kind note and regret having left Edinburgh without seeing you — 

renounced 
The weather has been and is so comfortable that I have postponed 

for the present 
renounced further rny intended visit to the north of Scotland. On your 
return to Edinburgh would you be able to ascertain, even approxi- 
mately the date of the killing of the piper, you will confer a great favor 
on me by informing me of it — My address up to Monday 25th inst. 

93 



will be care of Baring brothers and Co. London E. C. after that care of 
Drexel Harjes and Cie. Paris, France. 

Frazers in America of whom I know anything are uncommon. — 
One in S. Carolina was a prominent agent of the Confederate gov- 
ernment in the late rebellion — another of New Jersey, who claimed 
the title of Lovat some forty years since, I think is a descendant of 
the Master of Lovat, the son of Simon Lord Lovat, though an article in 
N. and Q ; says as a descendant of John the brother of Simon he has 
since died — The Princess Murat now living in Paris is his daughter — 
There is, as I am informed another Mr Fraser from the U. States now 
in England who is preparing to claim the Lovat title as a descendant 
of Alex. Fraser — But I am not acquainted with him — There is also a 
Mr. James Fraser a merchant in Cincinnati — I met him many years 
since at Newport a sea-bathing place in Rhode Island — we were so 
much alike that his intimate friends frequently mistook me for him 
and mine mistook him for me — On comparing notes we could trace 
no connexion thrqugh the ancestors of both were Scotchmen — He may 
possibly be a descendant of the Daniel Frazer you mentioned though I 
do not recollect that he mentioned that name in speaking of his ances- 
tors — also know a Mr. Wm. Wm. Fraser of Halifax Nova Scotia 
whom I met in California in 1848 or 9 — I think that the name occurs 
not unfrequently in Canada but I have not known any then who held 
it. — A Mr. Homer Dixon of Boston who married many years since the 
daughter of the Chief Justice of Canada and resided afterwards at To- 
ronto, told me that he was descended through his mother from the 
chevalier John Frazer the brother of Simon. I think that he had a 
portrait of him that had come down in his family I have not seen him 
for many years and do not know whether he is still alive. 



Unsigned rough draft of letter to Wm. N. Frazer by Persifor 
Frazer (b. 1809) (XVni-4). 

Paris, Sept. 9th, 1879. 
Dear Sir 

I wrote you on the 21st, ulto. from Liverpool in reply to 
your favor from Tornaveen, and asked you to kindly send me a line to 
London or Paris and inform me, if you could do so, of the date of the 
slaying of the piper by Alexn. Fraser that occurred between 1689 and 
1692 I have not heard from you, I suppose either that my letter has 
miscarried or that you have not found time to comply with my re- 
quest — If you will do so, at your convenience, you will greatly 
oblige me — I writing hurriedly in the public room of the hotel at 
Liverpool. I neglected to enclose a foreign postage stamp, which I 

94 



should have done, I now enclose three stamps and beg you to Pardon 
my forgetfulness — In the summer of '78 I was at Tours with some 
leisure time on my hands, and employed it in looking up 'La Frezeliere, 
the estate of Rene Frezel the father of Simon Frezel, who came to 
England with William of Normandy and who is supposed to be the 
ancestors of the Erasers of Scotland— with perseverance and some good 
luck I succeeded in finding it — It was not in Touraine as is stated in 
the "British Peerages" but in the adjoining province of Anjou. These 
provinces no longer exist except in name — should you ever take a run 
across the channel and feel any curiosity to visit the place — you will 
find it in the Department of Mayenne, seven kilometres (4 1/2 Eng. 
miles) to the Northward of Chateau-Goutier — a town of some import- 
ance and about a mile to the Eastward of the village of Loigne of 
course it is no longer, a Seigneurie, as they were all abolished at the 
French revolution, — but a farm, still retaining its name of la Fre- 
zeliere — The Chateau no longer exists but some portion of the office 
and the kitchen have been incorporated in the farm buildings notably a 
stout stone round tower with a winding staircase inside — The Maire 
of Loigne who showed me over the place, seems to know more about it 
than any one else, he lived there in his youth his father being the ten- 
ant of the property. — You doubtless: know the name of the French 
Branch of the family, les Marquis de la Frezeliere from Frezel became 
Frezeau as that of the Scotch branch became Eraser — 
, Excuse me for — 



Tornaveen 

Aberdeenshire 

iSth Sept. 1879. 
Dear Sir 

Your most interesting letter of the 9th inst. has been for- 
warded to me here I am now able to inform you that the date of slay- 
ing the piper by Alexander Eraser was in 1689. This appears from a 
Judicial investigation with the circumstances which took place before 
the Sheriff at Inverness when an illigitimate Brother of his was exam- 
ined as a witness. 

The information your letter gives is certainly most interesting and 
the next time I visit France I shall if possible take a run to "Loigne" — 
in order to see the Chateau la Frezeliere — It would be possible I pre- 
sume by writing to the "Maire of Loigne" to obtain a photograph of 
what remains of a building of so much interest to our name. 

An account of the Erasers particularly of the family of Philorth now 
represented by Lord Saltoun, who is unquestionably the head of the 

95 



Frasers in Scotland was recently printed for private circulation. His 
Lordship has presented copies to the principal Libraries in Scotland 
and I think it not unlikely that he may have sent a copy to what was 
called when I was last in Paris- — the "Imperial Library" — 

I was much disappointed at not seeing you when in Edinburgh — 
as mentioned in a former note, which I hope you received, I called for 
you at the Hotel but found you had left — Should you visit Scotland 
again I hope to be more fortunate and if I can discover anything which 
may assist you in your investigations connected with Alexander Fraser 
I shall not fail to communicate with you. 

Believe me 

Yours very truly 

Wm. N. Fraser 
Persifor Fraser Esq. 



Two years after the death of my Uncle, Persifor Frazer (1809 
XVIII-4), I went to Dublin for the purpose of getting some light on 
the early family history. 

One George A. Thompson a public searcher was first employed 
to examine the records of the Register's Office for any information 
which it might contain, but the search was fruitless. 

Mr. Solicitor L C. Doran was then retained to make similar investi- 
gations which had also been without result up to the time when 
I met Sir Bernard Burke, Ulster King at Arms, at Dublin Cas- 
tle, who very kindly undertook to use his exceptional facilities and ex- 
perience to the desired end, and Mr. Doran's services were dispensed 
with.* 

Sir Bernard's researches were also fruitless, as the following letters 
will show. 

Letter from Sir Bernard Burke to Persifor Frazer (XIX-3, b. 1844) 

Dublin Castle 

14 Aug. 1882. 
My dear Sir, 

As I apprehended your ancestor Persifor Frazer has left 
no genealogical trace in this Country as far as I can see. A minute 
search through the local Wills, not only those of the Diocese of 
Clogher, but also of Armagh, has produced no results. I am quite 

*If any one doubt the statement that these investigations were being car- 
ried on in Ireland, one item in the bill which the learned Solicitor rendered for his 
valuable services would dispel that doubt: it was "For reading documents some 
of which were illegible — 8 s.") 

96 



sure that it would be quite useless to investigate further in this Coun- 
try. The pencil notes enclosed contain the various Wills tiiat have 
been Consulted. 

I return the papers you left with me, and express my regret that I 
have been of so little service. 

Yours very truly 

J. Bernard Burke* 

Ulster 



Dublin Castle 

21 August, 1882 
My dear Sir, 

There is no charge whatever for the genealogical enquiry 
I made for you. It afforded me pleasure to make it and it caused me 
regret that my researches were unavailing 

Yours very truly 

J. Bernard Burke 



Tornaveen 
Aberdeenshire 

31st July 82 
Dear Sir, 

I, am this morning in receipt of yours of 28th inst. — and 
regret extremely to hear of your Uncle's death as from the terms of his 
letter I had formed a high opinion of his intelligence and the good feel- 
ing he showed in the interest he took in the name he bore. 

I expect to be in Edin. towards the end of this week but only for a 
day — or two — when I return to this to remain until the nth prox/o. 
when I start for shooting quarters to remain for a week or so — If you 
come North, after that date, I shall be delighted to see you here either 
going to or returning from Inverness — This place is only aliout an 
hour from Aberdeen to our nearest station. "Torphius" Deeside 
Rwy. is at no distance from this. 

In case I sho/d. be in Edin. at the time you are there, I hope you 
will drop me a note before you arrive as I would certainly like to see 
you and introduce you to one or two friends who might be able to as- 
sist you in your investigations — I have not as yet met with the name 
of "Persifor", but I hope it will yet be found — 

The first settlement of the Eraser family — after quitting Peeble- 

♦Author of Burke's Peerage etc. 

97 



shire — was in this part of the Country — not in Invernessshire as is 
popularly supposed — They got enormous estates in Kincardineshire 
and this county from Robert the Bruce and KingDavid ist and i ith — 
1 refer particularly to the thanedoms of Covvie and Dueris (?) — and 
other Lands — in this and the adjoining County of Kincardine — The 
family came into possession of the Lovat Estates in Invernessshire by 
marriage at a subsequent date. All this however I daresay you are 
aware of — 

Believe me 
Dear Sir 
Yours very truly 

W. N. Fraser 
Persifor Fraser Esq. 



41 Albany St. 

Friday 
Dear Sir 

I shall be glad to see you here say at 12 o'clock. 
Unfortunately I am obliged to leave again for the North tomorrow 
morning. 

Ys truly 

Wn. N. Fraser 
Persifor Fraser Esq. 



Letters from Lord Saltoun to Persifor Frazer (XIX-3, b. 1844) 

Philorth 
September 5th 1882 

Fraserburgh. 

I have the honor to acknowledge your letter of the 3rd, and, if I 
had received it when it was in my power to comply with your request, it 
would have given be much gratification to present a copy of the "The 
Erasers of Philorth" to The Philadelphia Library ; but I regret to be 
obliged to say, that it is entirely out of my power to do so; for there 
were only one hundred and fifty copies printed, and I assure you that 
I have given away one hundred and forty nine of them, and have only 
one copy in my possession, or in any way at my disposal. 

98 



I am extremely sorry that I am thus absolutely unable to do what 
you ask, but, if you wish to consult the book during your stay in Lon- 
don, I may mention that there is a Copy in the Reading-room of the 
British Museum, and another at the Heralds College. 

I have the honor 
to be Sir 
Your obedient servant 
Saltoun 
To Professor Persifor Frazer 



Philorth 
Sept. 13th 1882 

Fraserburgh. 
Dear Sir 

I have to thank you for your kind note, received last night, 
which deepens my regret at being unable to do what you requested. 

I shall be most happy to receive a copy of your Theses, when it is 
convenient for you to send me one, and, as we had a little ceremony at 
Fraserburgh, yesterday in the interest of Education, I have taken the 
liberty of sending you "The Aberdeen Journal", containing an account 
of the proceedings, which you may like to see. 

I remain 

faithfully your's 
Saltoun 
To Professor Persifor Frazer 

(Accompanied by a newspaper in wrapper containing the account 
spoken of) 



The late Lord Saltoun was one of the highest authorities in Great 
Britain on Heraldry and as head of the Frasers in Scotland, and author 
of a very scholarly "History of the Frasers of Philorth," the best au- 
thority on all matters concerning the Fraser clan. I sent him a 
book-mark with a coat of arms and crest which have been in the 
family's possession during its residence in America. The following 
letter refers to this: 

Philorth 
Sept. 25th 1882 

Fraserburgh. 
My dear Sir 

I have to thank you for your letter, and for the copy of the 
Theses. The subject of which they treat, Geology, is a very interest- 

"99 



ing one, and, though I cannot pretend to be well up in it, I have no 
doubt I shall receive both instruction, and pleasure, when I have the 
time to devote to their perusal. 

I must also gratefully acknowledge the kind and complimentary 
expression of your opinion of the few words I address to the scholars, 
and others, at the opening of our public schools, the other day. 

I am a little surprised at your saying that the Ostrich's head, (with- 
out the horse shoe,) appears in one of the plates of my "History of the 
Frasers of Philorth" ; for the only plates, in which it appears, are the 
frontispiece of Vol I, and the Coat of Arms, opposite page 192 of the 
same Vol; and in both these the horse shoe is present. 

Our crest is not an Ostrich's head, but the whole bird in Heraldic 
language, "proper", with a horse shoe in its Ijeak , ahd, at page 121 of 
Vol I, I suggest a probable explanation of the reason of its adoption by 
Sir Alexander Fraser, in 1375, when he obtained Old Buchan lands. 

The coat of Arms, of which you enclose an engraving, is a curious 
one. The Arms are those of Fraser, common to all the branches of 
the family, except some, who bear fiz'c rosettes or cinguefoils, placed 
sattirewise, the incorrectness of which bearings I have exposed, pages 
89-91 of Vol I, and in my preface.* But the crest is evidently a part of 
that of our family, differenced by the two wings, and that is quite ex- 
plicable. 

But then, the motto is that of the Lovat branch of the race. 

In Heraldry, although the arms must remain the same, or can only 
be differenced according to certain rules and regulations; the crest, 
and motto, are not essential parts of the Insignia, and may be changed 
at pleasure ; and I think this explains how the first adopter of these 
Arms took his crest from the one, his motto from the other, of the two 
principal families of the name which he was Heraldically quite entitled 
to do if it pleased him to compliment those families in that manner. 

I remain 

Your's very truly 
Saltoun 
To Professor Persifor Frazer 

♦To "The Frazers of Philorth." 



100 



The following note was elicited from a friend in Ireland by a 
Roman Catholic priest whom I met on the steamer from Queenstown 
to New York, and who promised to make inquiries for some trace of 
Persifor Frazer's residence at or near Glasslough in the early part of 
the i8th Century. 

Ballibay 
Co. Monaghan. April 14. 83 
My dear Father Martin 

I received your most welcome letter in due time, and felt 
truly happy on reading that you and F McKenna were well, and suc- 
ceeding so well in your most arduous and unpleasant mission. 

I enclose with this letter the family record of your esteemed friend 
Mr Frazer, but ; I am sorry, that I have not succeeded in finding the 
sought for information. 

I called on Mr. McCulloch who is, as you are aware, a J. P. and 
agent to Sir John Leslie, owner of Glasslough and all the lands about 
it, and who, I thought, would be the most likely man to institute a suc- 
cessful search. He requested the Rector to examine all the parish' 
records, but he could find no trace. I also asked Mr McCulloch to 
search the estate rent rolls for the same purpose ; here also there was 
no trace. 

Mr. McCulloch tells me that the Leslie family in those days were 
Jacobites, and fought in James' army against Wm. Ill, and that it was 
not probable that any of William's adherents would find favor with the 
Leslie family. 

I need not tell you there is a great change in the family politics 
since those days. 

I am sorry to tell you our poor country is in great distress at pres- 
ent. * * * 

I am glad to tell you the Bishop and priests are in good health. 

With kindest regards to F/r McKenna and yourself I remain 
yours ever Sincerely 
L. I. O'Neill 
Rev. Mr Martin to Persifor Frazer*. 



Letter of Wm. N. Fraser to Persifor Frazer*. 
(enclosing cutting from a newspaper) 
41 Albany Street 
Edinburgh. 

4th Feby. 1886 
My dear Sir. 

Professor James Geikie was so good as to let me know that 
he had heard from you and that you were surprized that I had not 
written to you on the subject of the Lovat Peer age Case — I can as- 

♦Born 1844. 

lOI 



sure you the Post office is at fault, not me, — for I not only wrote but 
sent you a paper containing the judgment of the House of Lords and 
I am therefore much disappointed to learn that the paper never reach- 
ed you. I shall try and get a copy of the judgment but it may be diffi- 
cult to do so now — However John Fraser the Claimant had no case at 
all — It was a complete break down — Nothing was proved as to what 
became of Alex/r. Fraser after he slew the piper — at any rate it was 
proved to demonstration, or something near to it, that Fraser the 
"miner" could not have been Lovat's brother as he would have been 
receiving daily wages as a common labourer at a time when he had 
reached the goodly age of 104 years. I rather think he must have 
been 84 or 85 years of age (but I write from memory), when John 
Fraser's ancestors was born — It is a pity the poor man should have 
thrown away his money in such a venture. I think I mentioned to 
you that John Fraser used to call for me on the subject, years ago, 
when I told him that his case appeared to me to be hopeless. It is a 
pity his legal advisers did not give him the same advice — after the 
decision of the case, he published an address to his friends about In- 
verness, to say that he would still persevere. I fancy however that we 
shall hear nothing farther about it. Sir William Fraser Bar/t. of 
Ledclune made himself rather conspicuous in this affair. He got leave 
from Lovat to inspect the Vault of the Lovat family at Kirkhill, and 
strange to say removed the plates from the different coffins — and left 
them I think with some shop keeper in Inverness. However on this 
coming to Lord Lovats notice, the plates were again restored — I 
have never heard what was Sir Wm's. motive in acting in such a way, 
but I fancy he did so in the interest of John Fraser the Claimant — I 
find I have a cutting which I took from the Aberdeen Journal about the 
coffin plates and I now enclose it in this you may depend on it that as 
soon as I can lay hands on the Report of this case I shall at once send 
it to you. 

Believe me 

Yours very truly 

Wm. N. Fraser 

P.S. Lord Saltoun died in London the day before yesterday. He 
represented the most ancient branch of the Fraser family 



102 



Copy of a letter from Mr. B. Homer Dixon Consul General for the 
Netherlands in Toronto, to Mr. Archibald Mackensie Dean of Guild. 
Inverness, Scotland, and sent by the latter to me. 

Toronto. Dec. 1885. 
My dear Sir 

I have just read with much interest your account of the Lovat 
case. Some years ago — 30 or 40^! had a friend Tersifor Frazer of 
Philadelphia, who always claimed a cousinship with me as being de- 
scended from Alexander son of Thomas, who went to Wales 

although my impression is that my old friend said he went to the north 
of Ireland, though it may have been North Wales. 
But of this I am not certain, he always said that Alexander eldest son 
of Thomas of Beaufort, was his ancestor. He was a perfect gentle- 
man, moving in the best society in Philadelphia, but he hated the Sas- 
senach ! I do not think any of my American friends were like him for 
this was before the war, when the ill feeling of the old Revolutionary 
war was dying out. He has been dead for some years but he had a 
married brother, a Professor, who may be yet alive. He had also an 
Uncle Persifor Eraser Smith, a General in the U. S. army. And talk- 
ing of the Erasers reminds me that my father used to tell me a story of 
his great grandfather John Fraser Master of Lovat — that he once dis- 
armed a recruiting sergeant and twelve men for which he was (?) 
arrested and imprisoned (I think in Inverness) but his brother Simon 
Lord Lovat Lord of Regality, went to see him (or sent to him) in 
prison, and advised him not to acknowledge the name of John, but to 
call himself Simon, and when he appeared before the Court as Simon 
Frazer— Lord Lovat (or his deputy) cast the Indictment and dismissed 
him. did you ever hear the story? * * * 

B. Homer Dixon. 



103 






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